Hope

Okay, this post is going to be different from the ones you are used to seeing here. If you're looking for fun and silly pictures of our crazy family...you can skip this one and come back in a few days. :) I won't be offended, I promise! I don't even know who all reads this blog, anyways, so here goes...

I (Marlene) have been having a really, really hard couple of weeks. Some struggles I have had in the past have kind of "returned" to haunt me - and this has hit me like a truck. It's been awful, truly awful. I'll be completely honest; I'm really struggling, guys.

Two weeks ago, Shawn and I were working in the nursery at church. So, we didn't get to hear the sermon. My sister-in-law, Christine, was in the service listening to Barry (our wonderful pastor) preach. Barry was talking about how we can pray for God to send angels to people in need. Knowing how much I have been struggling, Christine thought about me when Barry talked about praying for angels.

The next day, Monday, I was watching Ellie, Blake and Charlie while Christine was taking a shower. While she was in the shower, Christine was pleading with God to send angels to help me. Ellie, who is almost 4, was sitting at the table in the kitchen, coloring a picture. I was sitting on the couch in the living room, watching Charlie and Blake. After a while, Ellie came into the living room, walked up to me, and handed me this:

Sometimes she writes "words", but the "words" are always just a bunch of random letters put together. She can write her name, but other than that it's always just a bunch of gibberish. It's usually things like, "CFH" or "LEEEM" or "BBBC".

I stared at the paper she had given me.
I said, "Ellie, do you know that you wrote 'hope' on this picture?"
Ellie said, "Yes, I know."
I said, "Ellie, do you know what hope means?"
She just looked at me for a moment, then gave me a silly smile and went off to play.

When Christine came out from her shower, I showed her the picture. She told me how she had been praying at that very moment for God to send His angels to comfort and help me.

I can't stop looking at that picture. And every time I do, I feel a little more hope.

So, I don't really know where I'm ending with this. But I wanted to share that amazing miracle with you. And I want to say that there is hope. Even when you don't feel it, it's there. Don't let it go. And if you do, God may send an angel to remind you not to let Him go. I pray that He does. :)