As Christmas Day Approaches....

As Christmas Day approaches, I have so many feelings and thoughts. I am so thankful to be able to spend it with my family, God willing. Something we oh so take for granted.

I was in such a complaining, negative mood the other night. I was just sure this Christmas was going to be "pointless and ruined." (And I don't mean any of this on the Heavenly scale of things, about our Lord or the reason for Christmas in the first place. I am speaking on human terms here.) Tonette was not coming in for sure, we didn't know if Aunt Willie was coming or not. Dylan had to be at his dad's until 7 pm Christmas Eve, and it is really up in the air as to how many days he will have to be gone after Christmas. We find out for sure Aunt Willie cannot make it in for sure due to impending bad weather. My sugar cookie icing recipe SUCKED (sorry mom) and nothing seemed to be going right. Christmas was going to be a failure this year, I had decided. (Despite the fact that everyone else in the family was still going to be there, we DID get Dylan the times we were hoping for, etc and so forth. I was in serious pout mode.)

Then I saw a video, heard a song that was written especially for my friend April and her situation she has found herself in. (I am not going into full detail here for many reasons, but bear with me.) You see, her 10 year old daughter was murdered this summer. By a driver that was DUI. Her mother was also nearly killed, and her niece was also in the vehicle to witness all this. The song, titled after her daughters name, was beautiful. Gut wrenching. So on the spot it had to come from God. It left me.... speechless. But with a desire. Well, a desire stronger than I had before I heard the song.

I graduated with April. From Kindergarten through 12th grade we knew each other. We sat together at Skyler's funeral only a mere year and half before her own daughter was to have hers. April's mother comforted Skyler's grandmother, being close friends. They had no clue they would be in the same place merely months later. Who could know?

My desire. I got sidetracked. I have such a burden for April. Have had one since I first learned of the accident when I was in Ohio with friends. But these last couple of weeks, it has been even stronger. I know there are no words that can be spoken by me to help ease her pain, to make this first Christmas without her little girl any easier whatsoever, but I know who to tell my words to. The one who can ease her agony. The one we have Christmas for in the first place. I ask anyone who may feel led to join me, please pray for April and her family this Christmas season.

Oh, how I want to share more, but my words could never tell their story. They have had so many people using them for attention for their own blogs, to make them feel better for helping someone, etc. I do not want that at all. That is why I am not even saying the daughter's name. God knows it. My facebook friends probably know it! My reason for this post is not to tell her story, but to ask for prayer for her mother.

And please, no one mention 'my big heart' or anything in the comments. I do not mean this rudely. I wasn't even brave enough to go to the candle light service they held for her while we were at church camp. I 'couldn't face it' but April had to live it. Enough rambling. Time for prayer.

**Just after I hit publish on this and went to my facebook, I chatted with April. I know I mentioned it above, but she is in dire need of a miracle, an intervention that only God can bring her. Once again, I ask for prayer for my friend.