It occurs to me that this year, many many families have endured personal and communal tragedies. From natural disasters to other situations outside of their control, this holiday season will meet many with a gaping hole in their hearts. I think of them so, so much, as one who has before found myself in such a situation around the holidays. When you’re so broken that you wonder how others can possibly be smiling.

I think of the deeply hurt this week as America enters the season of Thanksgiving. I feel like, for such people, the nagging question remains: “What exactly am I to be thankful for? What a horrible, horrible year this has been.” And you’d be right to ask such questions out of your pain. I don’t have all the answers myself for sure. In the midst of that reality, the only thing I know that I am grateful for is truth. And this is it: God is close to those who are brokenhearted. Don’t believe me? Take a look. It is entirely comforting to realize that He’s not far away wishing you and I well as we trudge through trying to make sense of our lives; He’s very near, very close, very available to help us when we feel like we’re dying of a broken heart.

There are many broken and crushed souls in this world right now. To you all, my deepest desire is for you to encounter the God who loves you so specially. And Who wants to heal that very heart.

That’s what I’m grateful for this year.

How about you, my friend?

©2017, WriTEswAY