Draw me close to you...

My heart has never been so broken. My eyes have cried so many tears. My head so very confused. I just don't understand God's ways at times. And as difficult as understanding Him can be, I also can only draw my strength from Him.

This week our family lost a patriarch. A man whose heart was to share the love of God with all he met. A man full of love and shared it so freely. A man whose hugs were not just hugs, they were strong embraces. A man who by all who knew him, will be greatly missed. We said goodbye to our precious and dear Uncle Frank.

Our family's lives will never be the same. He was such an incredible man. When I met my husband this man loved me and accepted me into his heart without judgment.  He would lend a  listening ear, words of wisdom, and a shoulder to lean on. His wisdom and guidance was invaluable. My heart and mind just can't wrap around the thought that he's no longer with us. I feel like a zombie. I feel such a void, as we all do. I want nothing more than see his smile. To hear him say "Hallelujah" once again. And yet I'm comforted in knowing that he is singing Hallelujah and praising God now, something he did as long as I've known him here on Earth. How wonderful it must be for him to be doing so now in the presence of God, his truest best friend. Knowing that brings some comfort to my heart. But the sting of the sudden loss is still so fresh. God keeps speaking "Peace be still" to my heart. And I keep hearing the lyrics "Draw me close to you, never let me go…" Drawing from God's strength and love for us is all that helps my heart right now. And the love of our family. I love them all so very much. My prayer is that we only draw even closer to one another through this time and continue to grow in our love for Him. That's what Uncle Frank would have wanted. I want to honor him in doing so. And I pray that I can some how show just an ounce of the love he showed while here with us. Knowing him makes me want to be a better person, to love others more unconditionally, to be more open with sharing the love of Jesus. What a legacy he leaves! We will miss you here with us Uncle Frank. But we rejoice in knowing that you are with Jesus!! As my daddy always says to our kids when he leaves or we leave from a visit "It's not goodbye, it's later." So, "later" Uncle Frank!