Spring is here. Life is beginning.  All I can think about is death and the breaking of relationships. When one breaks all you can do is see the other side of it – that lost friend – everywhere. Because she was woven into your life like a vine into brick – the pictures of you together, the hand me downs she gave your son, the times you laughed, the way she listened… Now that vine will die. It won’t flower anymore.

And I’ve got issues with my family, too. I barely speak with those closest to me. If any one of them died, I wouldn’t have that as consolation – that is, of being in good standing with any of them. I tell my oldest not to talk about things like death, to speak life…

But I’m thinking: There is no consolation with death. It may be as natural as spring, but it is spiritually wrong. And NOTHING makes it easier to swallow or more acceptable. Not where they do or don’t stand with you, nothing! Except…

Except, if that lost relation/connection stands in Jesus Christ. THAT is consolation. And it’s spiritual, not natural. Not in our control…