This picture was taken less than 3 months after Lyndsie went home to Heaven. Lyndsie loved us more than anyone else! She fought so long to bring us together as a family and gave everything she had to keep us together, and when she wasn't there anymore...we felt it. The ache was constant and we were hurting so bad. 

At first, I thought I had to be strong and tell my children that everything was ok when they were crying and asking for their momma. I thought I had to be strong to help them. But I don't think that at all anymore. I think that when my children are crying in my arms because they don't care what death means and they just want their momma back, one of the best things I can do is sit right there and cry with them. Hurt doesn't make us weak, hurt let's us help. It means you feel what the other person feels and it means you can help in a way other people can't. Ethan and Aubrey know I miss Lyndsie. They see the tears in my eyes when they are missing her. My hurt helps them know they are not alone in their grief. And with time, I am seeing our hurt slowly turn to healing...together.

If you're in a place of hurt right now, don't think you have to wait to heal and be strong again before you can help someone else. Don't think you have to have it all figured out before you can encourage others. Our suffering reveals our need for a comforter and a healer (Jesus) and a broken heart makes it obvious that we can't do it on our own. Hurt is a gift that no one wants, but if we are willing to use it to connect with others right where they are hurting, our help will begin to outweigh our hurt. 

If you don't feel ready to share your struggles or be there for someone else yet, that's ok. I get it. My request for you would be simply that you pray for God to place the right person in your life to show you what that looks like. But ultimately, I pray that you will experience the overwhelming comfort and closeness of God in your hurt. 

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.