On May 19th, at 7:20pm, Charlotte Isabelle Deviney was born to Forrest and Mercedes Deviney. We were not able to be at the hospital. (In fact, there was some debate about whether Forrest could be there!) So, we had followed progress all through the day by texting. Cindi was in the middle of her prayer group when the first pictures arrived. As that group had been praying for Mercedes and Charlotte all day, Cindi immediately let them know everything was fine. As she shared the news of Charlotte’s birth, one of the group members shared that it was on the same day in 2019 that a close family member of hers had died. She experienced it as a sign of God’s promise and renewal in the midst of loss.
In the course of my years, I have experienced my share of loss. Over the past weeks, my spirit has resonated with several of our Bethany family as they experienced loss in this time of COVID19. Some were related to COVID19, some weren’t. But all of the family felt the hardship of being separated from each other in this time as well as the inability to celebrate their loved ones as they feel needed and appropriate. I find myself syncing up with their grief.
Then, someone does some amazing act of generous agape love. Someone hosts a reverse parade to celebrate our graduates. Someone hands out food to those who are struggling. Someone pays someone’s mortgage for them. Someone gets good news from their doctor. Someone reconnects with an estranged family member. And some of us are blessed with the birth of children into our families. Suddenly, I find myself seeing light in the darkness.
Even in the darkest times of our lives – or perhaps especially in the darkest times – God’s light shines. And the darkness has not and cannot overcome it. In the midst of death and the fear of death in this pandemic, God’s life is still breaking through and shining light into our lives. Thanks be to God!
Be Blessed,
Tom
