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A Cheerleader, a Mom, a Tragedy, and … God is Still Good.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Uncategorized


I’ve stared at this screen for half an hour, not sure where to start or how much to say. But I guess I’ll start with this:

Someone died today.

She was someone who, though I only met a couple of weeks ago, wasn’t quite a friend yet, but definitely more than an aquaintance. We had reason to bond through events of the past couple of weeks, and she instantly had a place in my heart, in that weird way that all parents do who come into my life through these circumstances.

Though I never knew her before, I got the feeling life had been pretty much happy and pleasant before we met. Oh, I’m sure it wasn’t all perfect ~ it never is ~ but I get the feeling that all was pretty much going according to plan. Beautiful family? Check. Happy daughters? Check.

Until her precious, love-of-her-life, pride-and-joy, cheerleader daughter was injured. Almost fatally.

The daughter was comatose from injuries sustained, and the family was devastated.

But this family was a family of faith and prayer, and prayed like nobody’s business for their beloved, pride-and-joy daughter to recover. They would have sacrificed anything.

One day she opened her eyes, and that was exciting.

The next day she wiggled her toes, and that was thrilling.

And then, as days passed, she stood up, and that was miraculous.

She began tracking people walking past and mouthing single words to those who were paying attention. It couldn’t hurt that the family was by her side every step of the way, every minute of every day that they could physically be there. Their love and hope was contagious, though it was clear to all who saw them the agony they were enduring and the toll it was taking on them as they labored in prayer for their daughter.

And prayers, for sure, were being answered…. miracles were happening. But it didn’t come without cost.

The mom passed away today, unexpectedly. Right there by her daughter’s side, holding her daughter’s hand. Exactly where she wanted to be… exactly where she would have gladly poured out her life anyway.

I thought about her all day and cried quite a bit, as I had grown pretty fond of this family by now. It was hard not to love them.

And I just wondered to myself, What was the last thing she prayed, before she fell asleep there holding her daughter’s hand, never to wake up again?
As a mom to my own precious, love-of-my-life, pride-and-joy daughters, I knew exactly what I would have prayed in the same situation:

Lord, take me instead.

What mom wouldn’t pray that? What mom wouldn’t gladly sacrifice… anything?
There is really no point to this story, except that as I’ve dwelt on it all day and struggled to make sense of it all, and wrap my head around exactly how God is working in all this and how exactly God could allow this to happen, the only conclusions I can come to are these:

God works all things together for our good.

And God is always good, all the time.

And that’s all I got.

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Comments

  1. christy says

    July 31, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    I am speechless…but I remind myself daily that God did not just turn around to tend to someone else…look back at me and say, "Oh, FOOT! Everytime I turn my back on Christy…something happens to her! " I know that through every storm, every joy, every fumble, every heartache, every victory and every minute He is caring for me and watching me and working together my tapestry so

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About Me


Hey there... I'm Melissa! Texas girl. Mom to three + one goldendoodle. Believer. Old house fanatic. Creating a happy + healthy home with purpose is my passion. I'm so glad you're here!

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I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 years of paint off of this door down to the wood and start over… but that person has no business starting new projects. 😅 My neighbors must have thought this project would never end. *I* thought this project would never end. 😰 If you’re thinking of doing this yourself? Just don’t, ok? Throw the whole door away and buy a new one. 😂🤣 Just kidding.  Old house weirdos like me… we can’t just do things the easy way. Anyhoo… after some trial and error, @sherwinwilliams Celestial is what I landed on, and I have to say… I like it. Periwinkle-ish blue looks great with the yellow house and will look even better when the azaleas are in bloom. Was it all worth it? That’s not important right now. 🤭 Will I do this all again in two years? The magic eight ball says… without a doubt. 👏🏻 I’ve already picked the next color. #gluttonforpunishment #somefoolsneverlearn #oldhouselove #oldhomelove #makinghome #southernliving #gardenandgun #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in an 80-year-old house completely worth it … what broken pipes, icy hardwood floors and drafty windows? 🤔 I forgot already. #comeonspring #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Happy Saturday ☀️ Happy Saturday ☀️
Salt Lake City is always magical ✨ Salt Lake City is always magical ✨
2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrollin 2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrolling through my pics from the last twelve months made me realize how blessed and content I am. Prosperity, love, and peace have been ours in abundance, in spite of the pain of losing my dad. The second picture is the last picture of him… the last time I saw him. 💔 But God has been good to my family this year and 2022 is ending far better than it began. 😄 #2022inreview #thanksforthememories
Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍ Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍♀️
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That’s it. That’s the tour. (Slide two). 
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It’s a new trend I’m starting: bare Christmas tree. Lowe’s tag still attached (so quirky and unexpected)! Christmas ornaments still in boxes. Coming soon to an Anthropologie window display near you. 
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Every year I think, “next year I’ll do better. Next year I’ll have it together.” And then, here we are on the SIXTH Christmas that we’ve been in this house, the sixth Christmas I’ve dragged our chaotic bunch of Christmas mess out of a chaotic garage I still haven’t unpacked from our move six years ago. 
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Maybe this year is the year I’ll organize it all and put it back neatly so that by Christmas number 7, it will be smooth sailing. People will flock to my social media to see how I’ve pulled everything off SO PERFECTLY. Next year will be my year. 
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Seems every year there’s less and less bandwidth for all these things. There’s more grief and stress, less money. More demands, less grace. 
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I put this sign on the wall in my office so I could keep it in front of my eyes: Love. Joy. Peace. And all that. I am SO unlike Jesus most days. So lacking in all of these character qualities. And that’s WITH waking up most mornings and spending my first 30 minutes with God Himself. 
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How lost would I be without that? Geez. I can’t fathom. I REQUIRE being transformed by renewing my mind every single morning, and even then, responding to people and life with love, joy, peace and patience doesn’t come naturally. 
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It’s the goal, though. 
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This weary world needs that from us Believers during this season, more than ever… even more than an Anthropologie-window-display worthy Christmas home tour. 
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I’m working on both.
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