Thank You
The world is a place of great beauty. There is pain, there is suffering and there is loss, and all work to isolate and make us feel defeated, maybe even alone.
With my sister’s recent brain tumor diagnosis, I have known suffering and I have known defeat. I have been on a journey of learning how to live between the suffering of Good Friday and the glorious Sunday ascension, to live between the tension; suffering but holding onto hope, believing that God is good but not denying the difficulty of this season. As humans, we don’t know how to live in the middle ground of conflicting thoughts or emotions. But I’ve been learning that we need not choose one side, but we can walk fully in the suffering and fully in the joy of the resurrection and the ascension. Hardship does not need to be downplayed, and joy doesn’t have to be faked.
Yet perhaps the greatest lesson of all has been the truth that great beauty exists amongst the chaos and trenches of life. I have seen how in the face of suffering we are not pushed further away from love, but closer. Because though we all taste loss and sorrow and death, they do not have the final say over us. When over 20 friends were sat alongside us, as my sister was in the operating room, I learnt that community wins. And when $78,220 is raised in 5 hours, I learnt that love wins. But we must all learn the art of taking hold of those hands that are close by that want to hold us; the hands that take us out for coffee on rainy days, long walks when we forget how to breathe, or the friend who listens and holds you when there is nothing left to be said. We must accept that sometimes in life, we do need to hold our hands with others, that we need help. There is always love and hands reaching out, we must learn how to say yes and accept that love.
So even when the flood rises, there is always the beauty of the rainbow to remind us that no calamity will ever overtake us, that we will not perish. Our rainbow is glorious, made of countless faces and names, reminding us that love always wins.
To those suffering and in the trenches – you are never alone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
There is always love.
And love wins.
- April 4, 2017
Andero
April 4, 2017Beautifully written. May God place his guardian angels by Vero's side always and protect your whole family.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love
1 Corinthians 13:13
Rasha Farag
April 5, 2017Thank you for sharing this experience, your thoughts and feelings with us.
Veronia and the whole family are in our thoughts and fervent prayers.
We know and trust that the Lord is good, all the time
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord , I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Diana Bera - Brighton
April 5, 2017What wonderful beauty God has given us in this world. When I saw the amount of money people raised in hours and watched the number go up in front of my eyes in minutes by the thousands, I nearly cried in the middle of the concourse at Victoria last night.
The world has pain, but seeing the amount of people that have physically, virtually, and emotionally surrounded Vero, was something beautiful and amazing to see for one young beautiful loving and loved young lady.
Thank you Heavenly Father that you have given us an amry of friends and family to remind us all that we are never alone. And despite all that's thrown our way, You are always there with us every step of the way, showing us Your Love, Care and Protection
Makrina, please know that we are all here beside Vero, John, you and the whole family and will continue to pray for you all.
Mina Ayanga
April 6, 2017Love always wins.
Thank you for sharing such beautiful thoughts. We are praying for your sister.
Adel Bishai
April 17, 2017Thanks for being vulnerable and opening up,your heart to the world. It is very refreshing to be part of your blog.