There is Only Time for Love

You know when you hear about something, and it makes you hold your babies a little tighter? Reminds you life is precious, and to slow down. I have been experiencing that this week, as I learned that a sweet high school friend's son has been diagnosed with leukemia. It's too close, too close to home. But it can happen to anybody, we don't get to choose. My heart has been breaking. No baby, no mother should have to endure that pain. But again, we don't decide, do we?

I don't know if it's because her son is just one month older than my Rafey, or that he looks like him, or that I consider his mama a close friend, but it has made me stop and think so much these past few days. She has asked for prayers that her son will get used to the nurses and to sleeping in a strange place. As I sat in a friends house today holding a screaming Rafe because he was afraid I was going to leave him, I realized that the sweet boy in the hospital was probably having to deal with and overcome these very strong, normal emotions all too abruptly, all to severely. His situation probably demands it. I held Rafe a little tighter, a little longer; thankful that I had the opportunity. As this friend has reminded us to hug our babies, and be nice to our husbands I am reminded that I let too many unimportant things turn this life into a race. This life is not a race. I get angry, I get short, I snap at my husband and my children....there is no time for that. There is only time for love.

There are no guarantees in life, other than the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is amazing to me that the same thing that gets me through a hard move, will be the same thing that strengthens and heals the hearts, minds, and bodies of this family. When I think of that, I think this family's need is so much more worthy of the blessings of the atonement of Jesus Christ than me and my trivial struggles. Yet that is the beauty of the atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ; there is no thing too great or too small for it to encompass. It is indeed beautiful. We all need His grace, it is for everyone; and for that I am thankful.

So hug your babies, be nice to your husbands, and pray for Brett; he needs it.

Love you Katie.