Day 35 – April 14, 2025

 Summer and Fall of 2022 felt a lot like trudging through the wilderness looking for the break in the trees.  My father was slowly succumbing to a battle with Lewy Body/Parkinson’s disease and my mom devoted herself to caring for him full time.  I was having a hard time juggling the day to day needs of raising a family versus a longing to be back at my childhood home to help my parents.

 There were times when I would feel overwhelmed, and John 1:5 would pop into my consciousness; “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”.  That verse has always reminded me that even though sin, death and darkness is in our world, Jesus has and will overcome it. 

  I would stop and think “Ok, where is the light in this moment”.   I knew I couldn’t walk through this alone and be ok, but I didn’t have to.   Even though it felt like we were trudging through the dark, the light would always overcome it. 

  I was able to spend dad’s final days at home with my family and when his body began to fail, I knew he would be made whole again in heaven.  Knowing this gave me peace and hope. 

Gracious God, We are thankful for the ways that you, even in the darkest of our situations, shine through and remind us of the new life we have in you. Amen.