You Can Smile Again

Devotional for Friday, December 5, 1997 by Kathy Napier

As I sit here and look at the calendar, I'm astonished that it's been almost two years, two very long years. My daughter's best friend, Tina, was murdered. She was 14 at the time, as was Michelle. I knew her loss was going to be very difficult for Michelle to handle but never did I realize the full impact that it would have. Michelle had always been such a happy-go-lucky, smiling, friendly young lady. All at once, she began to withdraw from everyone and everything. She no longer wanted to leave her room. She wouldn't, couldn't, eat or sleep. I took her to see a physician; she was sent to counselling and told that she was suffering from depression. It's been a long, hard road, but a very rewarding one. Michelle has shown many people that the only way to survive through a tragedy is by turning to God. She gave her testimony this summer and told how only God's grace had sustained her throughout the most trying time of her life and had given her back her life. She had mourned Tina terribly, but because she had turned to Christ, she had been comforted and knew emphatically that she would see Tina again in heaven. The love that she received from family, friends and especially Jesus Christ has made it possible to smile again.

Prayer: Precious Lord, let us lift up those who are mourning the loss of a loved one. May your love and your comfort heal them and make them able to live again. Amen.

Kathy Napier <napier@alpha.hanover.edu>
Hanover, Indiana, USA

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Today's Music:     Let There Be Peace On Earth.  

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