Blessed be Your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s ‘all as it should be’
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
~Matt Redman
Carmen and me, May 2008
Photo by Sarah Mattingly
What an incredible bond…
Beautiful image. Carmen knew in her soul that her mommy was holding her then. What blessings Carmen brought to your family and to all of us lucky enough to know her story.
Take care.
What a beautiful life Carmen led. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
What an amazing picture of the LOVE you shared with each other. HUGS to all of you!!
LOVE this song – makes me tear up every time I sing it. Anyone who has been to the depths really understands what it takes to bless His name when you’re there. Of course it’s easy when you’re on the mountain top, but if you can still do it when the world is NOT all as it should be, then I fell like you really “get” God.
I also LOVE that new Amy Grant song Better Than A Hallelujah. I just know that all the moments of pain and suffering and tiredness and aloneness you have felt over the last few years have been witness by God and have not been in vain. That’s what that song reminds me of…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nMvvoXa9Yk&feature=av2n
I assume that you’ve heard this, but just in case…..
Sarah, no, I hadn’t heard that song. Wonderful and so true. Anything Amy Grant gives me flashbacks to the 80s/90s!
CYH…
Indeed!
Wow. This is beautiful in more ways than one – the words,and also the intensely beautiful picture that portrays such love between you. Thanks for sharing her story with the rest of the world via this Beautiful Canvas blog. You guys have been an encouragement in more ways than one – even in the midst of this very hard time in your lives. I have prayed, and will continue to pray for your family right now, as well as for what the future brings. May His comfort, peace and strength guide your every day.
What an amazing photo, a blessing for you to now have. I can’t fathom the loss of a child, beyond my own miscarriage (hard enough) many years ago. I often wonder at how God can ask us to love so deeply…and then allow such losses in our lives. But then I remember (duh) that He knows all about the “loss” of His very own Son, watching His Son suffer. And He knows what we only read about in His Word…what truly is beyond this life. And without such deep love that He enables us to experience, we wouldn’t know the joy He blesses us with for having such deep relationships.
So I continue to pray for your hearts, as you live through your deep loss and loneliness without Carmen there with you.
Nancy in the Midwest
Gorgeous and Precious! The vision of the Lord’s Love….
Thinking of you all. When all else fades away, love always remains. Love never dies. Revel in the amazing love you shared with Carmen and each other through this time. It will carry you through.
Lana, I’m back in Arlington now. The service for Carmen was wonderful. I was moved to tears, to smiles, to faith, love and hope and to the assurance of two things: 1) Carmen is with her heavenly Father and 2) that you and your family are blessed by Dave’s godly love, leadership and creativity. I really enjoyed being with you, playing with Lauren and of course meeting Hope. Love always, Dad
Beautiful Picture…Thinking about you and praying…
Take care. Stephanie
Gabriel just smile at your picture and said “There’s our beautiful Carmen! She has gone to play with PAPA (my deceased father)and the angels.
Hi Lana.
I was checking in when my daughter saw Carmen’s picture. She immediately said “Aww, look at beautiful baby Carmen. She’s in heaven, right momma?” Carmen’s story had even touched Mariela’s little 4 year old heart. What a wonderful legacy. I hope you are OK.
Janet