Blessings and Comfort

So, we went down for Rylee Rhys Taylor's baby blessing last week -- it was beautiful. She's a little darling girl and its great to see my brother as a Daddy.


I remember a conversation we once had, when we were putting in a fence around my parent's orchard. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up (we were in high school). Ben said: "I want to be the type of Dad who goes to his son's t-ball games and takes his girls to ballet practice." I was so touched to hear him say that. I think he already is, and will become an even greater Daddy. Thanks Ben and Shera for letting us visit. We love you both. Here's a photo of us:


On the way down, Ryan and I were listening to C.S. Lewis' "A Grief Observed". In the introduction, a really profound point was made that has stuck with me of late. The Latin for 'comfort' means to give strength, or intense strength. For some reason, whenever I thought about 'comfort' in the past, I thought of it in the same sense as a down-comforter blanket -- as if, when you were comforted, you had that warm fuzzy feeling or could skip or whistle. But sometimes, life is not like that. There are some trials that, despite comfort, we struggle. I can only imagine it would be this way with the death of a dearly loved one. So, this new understanding of the meaning of the word is significant I think. The Holy Ghost is known as "The Comforter". He can give us strength to endure trials that we otherwise would be unable to. We may still cry, or struggle, but we can be assured that we would've struggled much more without His help. That may be part of this life's experience, but we can hope in the fact that there will be a day when "God shall wipe away all tears from [our] eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelations 21:4).

I really like the idea that comfort means to give strength. I know God has comforted me many times in my life and given me help. I remember especially one night feeling low and sad when my sister Jenny had cancer. I viewed the cancer only in a negative light, and thought if it was a punishment, I should have it and not her - because I look up to her in so many ways. The fact is, God did not take away her cancer then, but He gave her strength to endure it, and to be an example to all of us in the meantime. He gave me strength to accept it and trust in Him. Without Him in the equation, our lives would be much much worse.

Sometimes God gives us strength or comfort through other people. I know He has given me Ryan as a comfort and strength for me. I am so grateful for the help he gives me -- he's so willing to help with Amy, or help clean the house. I love him dearly and am so grateful we can be together forever.