My Sister Dorcas's 50th Birthday

My oldest sister Dorcas emailed us photos of her 50th birthday. 

I don't think she looks fifty, do you?

Here she is with her youngest of four daughters, Jenelle, whom the Lord was so gracious to as a baby

when she had surgery to correct a hole in her heart.

But really, aren't we all born with holes in our hearts?

 A "God-sized" hole in our heart--a vacuum that only He can fill?

But there are other holes in our hearts as well:

holes that can only be filled

by love,

by family,

and by friends.

Holes that can only be filled

by beauty

and joy 

and God's creation.

 Holes that can only be filled by 

purpose,

something fulfilling or purposeful to do even when life has turned upside down, or when there is more pain than pleasure.

 Holes that can only be filled by music,

and singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord--

especially when the future does not look real bright, and we realize our only real hope is in God.

It's such a comfort to sing hymns and to play our hearts out at the piano.

Holes that can only be filled by forgiveness.

Holes only filled by realizing that there are some things we cannot control--

some holes that man can never mend,

and releasing them to the Lord,

letting His mystery bag fill the gaping holes in our heart...

holes that only 

grace

can fill.