One of my most precious memories of my mom took place a few days before her graduation to heaven. She was in her hospital bed, eyes closed, and suddenly I heard a whisper. I got up and drew close in case she needed me for something, and I realized she wasn’t whispering but singing. A children’s song: “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart…” There she was in a hospital bed, in pain, probably already aware that her time on earth was drawing to a close, and still she rejoiced. Was she rejoicing in her circumstance? Oh, no. She wasn’t a masochist. She rejoiced in her Savior. In His presence. For His peace and comfort. In every circumstance, we, too, can rejoice in His presence and for the peace and comfort He gives. There is nothing, ever, that separates us from His love. In that, we can always rejoice.
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