Go to GOD

Kiss your kids...if you have them. Hug your friends....tell 'em you love them. Embrace the people that you hold close to your heart. Love the folk who mean more to you than you will ever imagine....if GOD called them home tomorrow.

I have been super excited all week about a possible career move and experienced the highlight of that week yesterday with a series of conversations with the stakeholders of that organization. Conversations that began at 7:30am with the CEO and ended at nearly 4pm with a peer group and the 2nd set of Board Members. None of that is bigger that what GOD has for you. None of it is bigger than family. Our days are predestined and we want to think we are in control...as I often do.

All of that changed this morning. Still riding the high from the possibility of making a career advancement, making the morning trip down 311 to drop my girls off at school, I recieved a call from a life long friend.

My man on the other end of my bluetooth...was in tears and telling me that my God Daughter, HIS DAUGHTER had been called home to be with GOD! She was to be 19 months old on the 9th. How is this fair? My biological daughters in the backseat were quick to ask, "What's wrong Daddy? Why are you crying?" Well, how do you explain to a 4 and 23month old that their sister Ayriel has gone to be with GOD? I wasn't prepared.

After dropping them off at daycare, I had to exit my car and return to their rooms for one more hug and another "I love you." Headed to Charlotte to be with my friends, and say goodbye to my GOD child Ayriel Elaine. How does this make things fair?

To see my friends deal with the loss of a child. The loss of their baby girl. As parents we want (need/expect) our children to bury us, not us to bury our babies. My heart pours out to my friends. I pray that GOD gives them the strength, wisdom, and all the tools to trust in his plan and continue their lives while holding the precious memories of Baby Ayriel with them everyday.

To that, I say GO to GOD. Go to GOD with all that you have. We can't begin to make sense of life. We can't begin to "control" our destiny. We CAN go to the Father and bring him into our hearts and minds. HE is willing and ready to forgive and comfort all of us who trust in HIM. We all need that.

To our Baby Ayriel, I know that she is laughing and smiling that beautiful smile, while experiencing the place that we all wish to go. We will all miss her here on earth in the physical form, but she will never leave our lives. She's forever our Angel, our Ayriel! I Love YOU!