Beautiful Grace

Beautiful Grace 
September 8, 2014 
www.kurtscobie.com/worship 

Today is a special day in my family.

I can't believe it has been three years. Our first baby, Bella Grace, was so special. So precious. And even though we didn't even meet her, she has had a profound impact on us. She will never be forgotten. And her story lives on to impact others for good.

It has been quite a journey since September 8th, 2011. Each year is different for me and my wife. Yet, the pain of that loss still sneaks up on us and it feels like just yesterday that we were sitting in that hospital room trying to recover from getting a hole blown through our hearts.

It still hurts!

Yet, there is grace. I remember journaling a little after our baby girl went to be with Jesus. And the only reason I did is because I saw God's loving, gentle, and compassionate hand working good things out of our brokenness and pain. I just had to write it all down. We were covered in love and prayer by so many friends and family members. I am still thankful for the acts of kindness, the timely words, and the sacrifices made by people just to show us that they cared.

We didn't name our baby right away. We were, as most parents are, caught off guard by the whole situation. But, because of how we saw God moving, "Bella Grace" seemed perfect (just like her). Since then God's "beautiful grace" continues to show up in unexpected places.

Today I am thankful for perspective. I certainly do not understand the entire big picture, and I have a LOT of unanswered questions for God. But, I am thankful for how God brought beauty and grace out of a horrible situation.

And today I worship God for all that He is. And my eyes are fixed on heaven more and more intensely. Because I believe that one day, after coming face to face with God and running into the arms of Jesus, I will run with the same amount of excitement and intensity to my little girl and hold on to her for the rest of eternity. 

So, today is a special day. A good day. A difficult day. A beautiful (Bella) day. 

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." - Psalm 34:18