silver linings

one of the ladies (i had to change this from "girls"...she's a baby!  she may be in her late 20s...) i used to teach with, along with her family, suffered a tragedy last week...her house burned and their belongings were destroyed, as well...  they're a young family...and they have 2 small children - a 6 year old and a 3 year old... 
i can't imagine having to rebuild a house...
and i can't imagine having to purchase all new belongings...
neccessitites...and toys...
i can't imagine helping my kids deal with this...
she's an incredibly talented cake decorator, too (and it probably helps that she's an art teacher :)), and she even lost her cake and decorating supplies...

they're believers...and i know that has to give them some comfort...
and, it's probably hard to see any silver lining in these events...
but, amazingly, she has found glaring examples...
she's shared 2 very powerful examples of "amazing" from the past several days...

her son, who is 3, was at school on Friday.  another child commented on the color of the leaves...that they were like the color of fire.  her son replies, "my house got fired and all my toys are gone." Then he got really quiet for a few moments and said, "but God is great and God is good."
he's 3....  wow....

and, today, Katie shared a beautiful "poem" that was written on a card she received....
"When my bed has been floating
On the flood of my tears
Seems as though my joy has disappeared
Still I will not put my hope
In what i feel or see
I will cling to You
and trust You're holding me
Lord I don't know where I'm walking
But I'll take it day by day
And I'll hold Your hand
And You will lead the Way."

silver linings... :)