Life has given some sour lemons, but we’re over here drinking the sweetest lemonade 🍋

I was once asked to share the biggest blessings and the biggest tragedies of my lifetime. The interesting thing about it was the realization that every single high could be directly linked to my lowest lows. 

This time of year is one of the most heightened reminders of this in my life. Today is the day, 6 years ago, that my whole world turned upside down. It’s the anniversary of my brother’s death, while also one of my favorite times of year with the excitement of back-to-school time and most of all, planning for my personal Super Bowl = our kiddos’ birthday week! (Their special days are 4 days apart!)

While my body aches from the flashes of memories that flood my mind this time of year, I pull those reflexes I’ve built over years of practice to the forefront of my mind, to overpower those intrusive thoughts with precious memories and gratitude. Like our last phone conversation talking about the kids and their first day of school, laughing at my brother’s jokes about seeing my son in an arena someday due to his theatrics, and sharing pictures of the supplies I got for their upcoming birthday parties. His voice, so vivid in my mind, sharing his admiration of the kid’s sweet smiles and telling me that he’s proud of me and the mom I’ve become.  

When someone you love is gone from this earth it is as though you’ve been given a new lens to look through from that day forward. A lens that is constantly trying to turn so that all you can see is darkness. But you learn to wrestle it, push your way through until it’s lifted again and the light shines through. Through perseverance, and the most amazing guides in your corner, you find the light again and again, making it a little easier with each rep. 

It can be challenging not to see the immense pain and struggle as an undeserved punishment, or question why God would allow this to happen. 

Why do such bad things happen to good people? A question as old as time. 

The answer? Well that depends on you. 

The answer you find depends on your lens at the time you ask. 

It depends on the role you choose to fill, your attitude, your mindset, and most of all your faith. 

I believe that God doesn’t cause bad things to happen, but He does promise to see you through. 

We live in a broken world and there are consequences for the choices we make. Sometimes we have to pay the consequences of the choices others make. No matter what the circumstances, God loves unconditionally and through putting people and resources on your path, He will provide all you need for each day. 

My brother’s illnesses were unjust, and his sudden death in 2019 was a tragedy. 

My entire relationship with my father and his passing from COVID in 2020 was not only a loss of life, but the death of an untouchable dream.

My sweet momma’s diagnosis in 2023 of PSP, a progressive brain disease taking away her ability to see, swallow, speak, balance and walk, was a devastating loss in slow motion. It was as if I was holding her hand over the edge of a bridge along deep rushing waters watching her slowly slip through my fingers with nothing I could do to save her. 

At times, I am still haunted to this day by my inability to turn back time and make things right again.

But, God. 

God has shown me that sometimes the miracle is in the prevention. Sometimes something bad has to happen to prevent something worse. 

My brother lived an impactful, vibrant, bold life in the years he was given. And then, he was saved from the tragedy his life had become.

My father gave me life, and that’s a pretty important contribution to my story if you ask me. 

My sweet momma was an angel on earth, who lived and loved so well I couldn’t ask for a better role model and best friend to have as my mother. 

God saved my mom and brother from this broken world that had overcome them. Jesus brought justice to their lives as he removed their suffering and restored them as they were given their forever home in Heaven. 

There will never be enough time. We have to love others well and choose to live impactful, vibrant and bold lives while we are given the chance to do it. 

When life gives us lemons, trust and see, Jesus is behind the scenes making the sweetest lemonade. 

It’s ok to feel lost when our world is flipped upside down from the tragedies life inevitably brings. But we have the choice, either to allow ourselves to stay lost crawling through the valley of the shadow of death, or to be enlightened with the glow of God’s love and the promise of Heaven. 

Don’t miss the miracles of today because you are too buried by the past. 

Lemonade is refreshing after all and can reawaken our souls. It’s even better when you drink it with others, cheers! 🍋💞✨