I want to tell you a story...
My friend is the youngest in a family that she readily admits is as dysfunctional as it gets. In this family are two brothers and two sisters. The two sisters - one born out of abuse and the other born into it - are solid Christians. The two brothers - who were the light in their mother's eyes - took paths away from God.
Six years ago, an 18 year old young man - son of the oldest sister - was so overcome with despair that he believed his only choice was at the end of a gun. His parents, younger brother and extended family were devastated. As the family gathered to mourn, something unspeakable came to light. And out of one young man's suicide three children were rescued from abuse and near death from starvation.
God redeems even the ugliest of circumstances. Those three children are happy, healthy and trust in the LORD for their salvation.
The sisters' faith grew, one brother questioned everything and the other was cast out for his choices. The matriarch of the family started reading the Bible. Different paths. Life goes on.
Flash forward to this weekend. The second son of the older sister spent the last six years on a spiral of destruction. It ended in the wee hours of Saturday morning. He drank until he passed out Friday night... and never woke up.
Two sons lost. Two sons buried.
God will redeem this too.
His aunt believes it... somewhere, out of the pain, his mom will believe it too.
Eventually.
How do you go to bed one night awash with thankfulness for family and then go to bed the next night awash with grief for a family broken forever? How do you wake up the next day?
With a heavy heart.
And hope for redemption?
