A final word: if life has you completely snowed right now, you are not obligated to make yourself cheerful. That is not what I am talking about here—denial does no one any good. Sometimes life really is that difficult. And in cases like these, sometimes the best you can do is allow someone else to carry the hope for you, until you can find it again yourself. That is what community is for. That, among other things, is what your church is for. And thank you for being community to each other.

Grace and peace,

Becky

Prayer

Holy God, we give you thanks for the calendar that reminds us every year that you are risen, and that you go before us in all things. We thank you for the love that persisted through every insult and injury humanity offered you then, and that continues to persist through all of the challenges we offer you now. We thank you for the love that continues to sustain us, and for promising to be with us both now and forever. Amen.