10 mugs and Psalm 34:18

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

There are two reasons that I have chosen this verse for this post.  The first is the reason for the mugs...

My cousin Michelle asked me to make these for her as a thank you for her physical therapists and doctors.  She has been in incredible pain for a long time and she was losing hope.  She was brought to God and has kept Him by her side, incredibly close.  After all that she has gone through, God has sent these people and their talents into her life.  Not only is she giving them a mug of flowers, but she's also helping to plan a wedding for one of them who was not going to have a wedding to save money.  She's working hard to put the plans together to help this girl have her dream wedding on a Lake Michigan beach.  God is good!

(Second reason for this post is down the page a bit!) 

Aside from the mugs, I wanted to refer to Psalm34:18 one more time.  This past weekend, a relative of mine was killed in a motorcycle crash.  She and her husband were rear-ended by a drunk driver and he fled the scene.  Both of my relatives were transported by ambulance to the hospital...her injuries worse than his.  After hours of surgery all night, the doctors were unable to save her.   When I think of this couple, I think of how he was quiet and she had a great sense of humor.  She was always so nice.  And the thing that comes to mind is that they were SO in love.  They had just celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary less than a week before the accident.  She mentioned on Facebook that she "hit the jackpot when [she] married him in Vegas."  Along with thinking about all of her wonderful qualities, I have been praying a lot for her husband.  Still in the hospital with his own injuries, he had to say goodbye to the love of his life.  I cannot imagine what that feels like.  I don't want to.  I've also been curious...what is she doing now?  As she looks down from heaven with God by her side, does she want to come back and comfort all of us who are hurting?  Is she up there with complete acceptance of what happened and wanting to make us understand?  With so many questions running through my mind, I have clung to this verse..."The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." - Psalm 34-18  The reminder that the Lord is ALWAYS with us and he "rescues those whose spirits are crushed" is definitely needed at this time.  Please, if you've read this far, say a prayer for our family.  It is hard saying goodbye to someone's physical being, even knowing that they are in a better place.  We all love you, Kim.

With a heavy heart,

Andrea