February 19, 2007, Monday

Priscilla enjoyed being a single child over the weekend. She felt very special.

“Do you like to be the single child so you have mom and dad’s full attention?” We asked her.

“No, I’d rather have Lydia around.”

We took her to the Science Fair in Dayton. There was a booth with the real human organs demonstration: heart, lung, liver, intestine, muscle, and … the brain. It was a mistake for me to stop by that booth. I was not feeling well at all afterwards. Sorrow attacked badly.

Dreamed about Lydia last night. In the dream, she was under a series of horrible medical treatments. However, her spirit was still good, still talked a lot, excited, curious, and upbeat…

Oh, I miss her so much, her voice, her speaking tone, her expression…

The comfort I have from the faith is that Lydia is in a much better place than all of us who are still alive on earth. Any tiny thoughts about earthly life being enjoyable will right away put me in an extremely grieving, sad, and sorrowful mood.

But the Bible tells us to rejoice always (2 Corinthians 6:10). But do not forget it’s to rejoice “in the Lord”. (Philippians 4:4) Not simply be happy in secular and earthly way. That is meaningless (Ecclesiastes 2:1,17).

The more suffering we have, the less we like the world, that leads to more joy, which is the hope of God’s promise of heavenly home.

Many Christians believe in the prosperity teaching, and despise the suffering. That is very biased doctrine, and dangerous to our souls.

Sadly, many are not willing to be part of the suffering of the Christ (1 Peter 4:13). Even when trials arrive on them, they waste the great opportunity to learn the lesson of faith, by denying, ignoring, despising, or taking it lightly.

The suffering is necessary (1 Peter 1:6,7). Not deniable.