So, something strange happened to me this morning. I was dropping the boys off at school when a song came on the radio. It was a few seconds before I realized the song was vaguely familiar. I heard it for the first time about a month ago when a lovely, young lady sang it at church. The song is ”Just Be Held” by Casting Crowns: Hold it all together Everybody needs you strong But life hits you out of nowhere And barely leaves you holding on And when you're tired of fighting Chained by your control There's freedom in surrender Lay it down and let it go So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held Your world’s not falling apart, it’s falling into place I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held Just be held, just be held If your eyes are on the storm You'll wonder if I love you still But if your eyes are on the cross You'll know I always have and I always will And not a tear is wasted In time, you'll understand I'm painting beauty with the ashes Your life is in My hands Lift your hands, lift your eyes In the storm is where you'll find Me And where you are, I'll hold your heart I'll hold your heart Come to Me, find your rest In the arms of the God who won’t let go The song is beautiful and brings me back to the hurting and loss our church family was suffering when the song was sung. But, today was just a “normal” day. But, Monday wasn't. My son Allen got hurt in Monday night's football game. It wasn't bad. He walked off the field himself.  By the time he got to the parking lot after the final snap he was smiling despite a lot of pain. I wasn't even truly upset when play was stopped and I looked to see #40 laying on the field. He was moving his legs a little and soon took off his helmet. Then, he walked off the field with the trainer. I'm not sure what I was thinking while waiting to see what he would do; (my husband says he wanted to run onto the field, hug our son and tell him everything was going to be ok) but, I do remember, after the game resumed, having a hard time tearing my eyes away from the one son holding his arm tightly against his ribs to the other son who was still busting up plays and making sacks on the field. Today, when I dropped those kids off in front of the high school, I laughed as the hurt one dropped something and asked, none too politely, for his brother to pick it up. I smiled as I saw him, with his arm in a sling, holding the door open for several girls and a couple of friends. Then, as I pressed the gas to leave the parking lot something inside me snapped. Just be held. It could have been a really bad Monday night.  I won't go to the dark side here but, I will admit that I don't think I've ever had such a delayed reaction. What if... God has been showing me a lot lately that what I like to call MY life is really HIS. He can do whatever He wants with it. I could have been that lady who couldn't have kids or the girl who couldn't decide on a major so Auburn really did ask her to leave. I also could have been Miss America 1990 (because, you know, who didn't want to be Miss America?) or a ballet dancer in New York City or a judge. All real possibilities at one point or another, but none of these are part of my story today. I'm in a Bible Study about Hosea. Hosea is a shocking picture of letting God take control of your life. Wow. I'm sure as a young man Hosea wanted a bride who was pure and beautiful, a woman who would love him and give him children and be faithful only to him. But, that's not the story God chose for Hosea. I'm sure his kids would rather not have been named things like “No Mercy” (just imagine introducing yourself, aloud, to everyone at camp or in small group. “My dad was really creative...”). But, that was God's plan and that's our example of the great love the Lord had for His people and the love God has for us. Max Lucado has a thoughtful chapter in one of his books called “Out of the Carpentry Shop”. In it he talks about Jesus' last visit to his family's carpentry shop. Lucado says: “I wonder if He wanted to stay. 'I could do a good job here in Nazareth. Settle down. Raise a family. Be a civic leader.' I wonder because I know He had already read the last chapter. He knew that the feet that step out of the safe shadow of the carpentry shop would not rest until they had been pierced and placed on a Roman cross. You see, He didn't have to go. He had a choice. He could have stayed. He could have kept his mouth shut. He could have ignored the call or at least postponed it. And had He chosen to stay, who would've known? Who would have blamed Him?” I know, I know. Jesus was Jesus and he didn't have second thoughts and he didn't doubt his “calling”. But, what if he did? What if he wished for a life that was different or normal? But, that wasn't his story. That wasn't what God had chosen for him. And, he was completely and utterly yielded to it. He was ALL in. Committed, Surrendered, Resigned. But, he was also joyful. Yes, joyful. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Joy. Just be held. It's alright. God's got a plan. He's got you. This might not look like what you thought it would. It probably doesn't. But, God's got this. If you're walking through something that seems so yucky that it could only be an example to others and useful for growing you up, it's ok. Just let God hold you. Take a breath and trust Him. Hosea did and we still read about his righteousness. Jesus did and we still revel in his victory. You will and we'll all glory in your redemption. Now, we could talk about horrible situations being the consequences of sin or really, really bad decisions. But, let's not. Let's just assume you and I are doing our best to wake up every day and tell God we're ready for whatever He has for us, as long as He'll hold us up. Let's just assume that, ok? Allen with the hurt shoulder is going to be fine. But, until he heals he's got a sling to hold his arm steady and make sure the rowdy boys he's friends with don't jostle him too much. It would be embarrassing for me to clear a path through the hallways at school for him (but, you know I would totally do it!). But, even more, I know, no matter what, God is holding my kids. I know when they experience disappointments and frustrations and “why is life so hard?” moments that God is there, holding them. Their worlds won't be falling apart, they'll be falling into place. And, it's all part of His plan.