As the third year anniversary of Rhys’ death approaches, I reflect on the year as all of us do; mostly trying to see if we’ve made any difference in the world. We hear and read daily about all kinds of horrible things that happen in the world. We lament the path our country is taking and we wonder what comes next.

We measure the time in intervals since Rhys’ death, an artificial time line that creeps into everything we do. It is easy to get discouraged when the year ends and still the world trudges on a path of fear, hatred, and uncertainty. What are we doing? Where are we going? Can anyone make a difference?

The answer I think comes from the word of God, as my dear friend and spiritual mentor reminds me. It’s all there in Philippians 4:4-9. We are not to get discouraged and downtrodden. We are to “rejoice in the Lord always.” It is hard to cry when you are praising God. It is hard to be discouraged when you see what God has done. “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.”

I sat at my son’s grave shortly after he was buried and cried. I lamented the loss, the senselessness of it all and wondered why evil sometimes seems to be winning. Why would other human beings want to cause an explosion that kills other people’s children, my son included? I had a Bible with me that day and was given two scriptures by God, one of which was Philippians 4:8-9.

God reminds us to set our minds on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. We are exhorted to “meditate on these things.”

“That’s it,” I thought. Surely a focus on these things will crowd out the bad images that enter our minds so surreptitiously. It’s true. It does. So this is my suggestion to you, my friends: “Meditate on these things” and “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

• Author
• Recent Posts

Lynn

Account Executive at Sika Sarnafil

Lynn is an accomplished writer and business professional with a BA in English, an MBA, and JD degrees from prestigious Universities. Lynn has worked in the construction industry for 35 years.

She is also the mother of an American Hero. Her only child, Sgt. Rhys W. Klasno was killed in action on "Mother's Day," 13 May 2007 in Haditha, Iraq. Read her American Hero Tribute Blog and check out her Roofing Solutions Wonderkid Blog

Latest posts by Lynn (see all)

• HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY RHYS - July 16, 2016
• Running the Race - August 4, 2014
• Testing the limits of my endurance - July 4, 2014