My thoughts while running on the morning after the Boston Marathon bombing....

This morning I ran hard. I ran faster than I've ran in a long time. I ran and I cried as I thought of those who were effected by the bombs at the Boston Marathon yesterday. Really, we should all be effected. Why someone would feel that it is a good idea to kill and injure innocent people, is beyond me. But then again, isn't it us a society who pays millions of dollars each year to make and watch more and more movies, video games, and television shows that are consumed with violence? How can we be so shaken when we are really the ones doing it to ourselves? I cried as I thought about the wickedness that surrounds us and about the injustice, intolerance, and indecency that is taking over our world. I thought of my experience in the store last night where two adult men had a conversation in the checkout line filled with vulgarity and foul language right in front of me and another woman. I felt so disrespected and so upset. I literally had to bite my tongue to keep myself from being rude and yet, this morning, I wish I had just opened my mouth and let it come out. Our society wants women to be treated fairly and to be guaranteed their "rights" of insignificant things like wearing pants to church and and yet we are okay with the disrespect that is shown all around us as women appear practically naked on the covers of magazines in the check out lines? Why do so many women want to be like men anyways? If I had to work I would, not because of a need to be important or successful but because it would be a necessity in order to help provide for my family. I'm so grateful I don't have to work so that I can stay at home with my little ones. I feel so blessed to live in the bubble world that I create within the walls of my home. Sometimes as Cory leaves for work in the morning I feel a little envious as I look around at the disaster that is mine to clean and the children who are crying for food and attention, but then I remember. I remember that this is my work to do and my part to play. I wouldn't want it any other way. I am a partner with my husband in raising a righteous family and creating a Christ-centered home. There are no "rights" that I feel I deserve or are entitled to because we are a team and we each do the best at the parts we have been born to do. As I ran this morning and thought of these things, I also thought of the blessing and gift of a healthy fully functioning body. I felt invigorated as I ran even harder and felt so much gratitude for such a priceless and merciful gift. It is so sad to me to see people who abuse, neglect, or treat their bodies as a canvas to be put on display for all to see. Part of the reason I run, is to show gratitude and care to the body I have been blessed with. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. But someday it will be and until then I feel it is my responsibility to keep it as pure and undefiled as I can. Near the end of my run, a song came on that almost brought me to my knees. I have been going through all the conference talks again over the last week's worth of running and bike riding. I usually skip through the songs but this time I didn't. I listened and I ran even harder. As a ran, the saltiness of my tears and sweat ran down my cheeks and into my mouth. My crying turned into sobs as the words spoke directly to my soul. The message in this beautiful hymn became a balm for my bleeding heart. It was exactly what I needed to hear. Exactly what the Lord knew I needed to hear as my thoughts of sadness, despair, and frustration turned to hope, peace, and joy. Come, come, ye saints, no toil nor labor fear; But with joy wend your way. Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day. Tis better far for us to strive Our useless cares from us to drive; Do this, and joy your hearts will swell - All is well! All is well! Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard? 'Tis not so; all is right. Why should we think to earn a great reward If we now shun the fight? Gird up your loins; fresh courage take. Our God will never us forsake; And soon we'll have this tale to tell- All is well! All is well! And should we die before our journey's through, Happy day! All is well! We then are free from toil and sorrow, too; With the just we shall dwell! But if our lives are spared again To see the Saints their rest obtain, Oh, how we'll make this chorus swell- All is well! All is well! So today, I will gird up my loins and fresh courage take as I continue on in the fight for good. Someday we will all have a tale to tell and whether that tale ends triumphantly or not, depends on what we do today. Who knows what will happen tomorrow, but if I live the very best I can today, than I need not fear because I know that my God, our God, will "never us forsake" and eventually all will be well because good will always prevail.