Today one of my best friends has the fun sonogram where you find out the sex of your baby. It’s my favorite one. My heart is full of joy for her. I even dreamed about it I’m so excited. At almost the same time, my other best friend will be planning the memorial service for her beautiful mother who went home to be with Jesus yesterday. I can’t believe her mom is gone. My heart is broken for her.

And yet it is also so appropriate I would feel this amazing joy today. My friend’s mom was full of life. She loved to laugh and dance and sing. Her house was one of my favorite places in the world. She loved babies – she was a pediatric nurse her entire adult life. She’s one of the people who inspired me to return to school. She would be rejoicing alongside me today.

So I dwell with both emotions – grateful for the gifts we have on earth and grateful for the hope of heaven when we face these weighty sorrows.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die;