The tough valleys of life

It seems like I have spent a great majority of my adult life wondering around the valleys of life...sometimes they were very dark valleys; sometimes just hazy and dim. A few times I have made it to the mountaintop but I've never enjoyed a lengthy stay. I would soon lose my footing, falling back down to the valley, or I would be knocked off of the mountain by some wild and forceful wind....impossible to stand against.

I am not complaining. I appreciate the valleys, for, as a Christian, it is during my stay in the valleys that my faith is strengthened the most. I fall to my knees and call out to God like no other time. In fact, my faith in God would not be at all what it is today had it not been for those falls. Sometimes, my sin alone caused me to fall off the magnificent mountaintop, back into those lonely, dark and desolate valleys. Most of the time, however, the falls were by no fault of mine. Life is just tough and I've had a darn good handout of tough!

During this past year I've been doing a lot of thinking about my life. Of course, nothing else has affected me like the murder of my only son, Matthew, last year. It has forever changed me. I have spent the last 17 months in an extremely lonely valley. It's not pretty nor has it been comfortable. It's been the toughest time in my life. But, my heavenly Father has always been right here beside me, strengthening me and guiding me through those dark, incredibly tough times. My faith is stronger now than ever before. I feel a closeness with God that I do not have the words to describe. I now know exactly how Matthew felt when he so passionately and lovingly sang the song, "I am a friend of God". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ydC6hYbAw&feature=related
Matthew experienced many a valley in the short 28 years of his life here on earth. But, he loved God more than anything else, he knew that God cared for him and he knew that his God called him friend.

The mountaintop may seem to be the place to be. It's much more beautiful up there. And, after all, it's so much higher, so it must be closer to the heavens; closer to God. Well, it's not. I've enjoyed my stays on top of that mountain. It's definitely a easier and simpler life up there. But, I can't thank God enough for the valleys. They may be tough but I wouldn't trade my stays in the valleys for anything!!!