Can Joy and Pain Collide?

This past weekend, I had some extra time to think about and ponder all that I need to be grateful for. I even started a Pinterest Board on the subject of being thankful, called A Thousand Little(and Big)Things. Feel free to check it out!

 

I try to be thankful and live joyfully every day, for all that God blesses me with in my life, but many times I get caught up in the day's activities and miss the mark. So today I thought I would give God time in thanksgiving...

Then something tragic happened to some old high school classmates of mine that rocked my grateful world!! Their 20-year old son went missing! My heart dropped and I felt their awful pain and fear! 

My first thought was, "what if that would happen to my son?" (I texted my son today, just to make sure he was o.k.... and he was.)

Then, I prayed and prayed for this young man and his parents! 

https://www.facebook.com/snowmom13?fref=ts

This is the heart-wrenching fear of every parent, no matter how old their child is!  I'm sure a million questions are running through their minds today! 

• Where is he, Lord? Is he o.k.?
• Why won't You bring him home to us?
• How can You let us go through such pain and heartache? 
• If he is o.k., why would he do this to us?
• What are we supposed to do?

This is one of those times that being grateful, for these two parents, has to be nearly impossible. Even for me, today- my joy is hindered by the news. 

How do we find joy and gratefulness in times like this? 

Can true joy and pain collide, like a crazy roller-coaster ride- that makes you scream, but also makes you want to be sick?

Or even like a woman in labor, who suffers great pain, yet with joy and anticipation, awaits the birth of her newborn child.

 

Maybe it's not so much joy that I hope they find, but peace....in the midst of the chaos and heartbreak. Calming their hearts and trusting God to be with them and to help them find their son as soon as possible. 

I'm praying....praying for answers to the questions.
                   ....praying for protection for this young man.
                     ....praying for the Lord to bring peace and  
                                             comfort for these parents.  

So, today I am grateful for so many things! And yet, at the same time, I'm so very sad and my heart aches!! Will all my bloggy friends please hold them up in prayer, as well?   
Linking over at  "Multitude on Mondays".
1,479 - Even when I wasn't feeling well, finding solace in the Lord, who is my all-encompassing Healer!
1,480 - Having tea with fresh peppermint leaves, shared by a friend and neighbor.
1,481 - Some cooler weather, even though I am sad to see the warm summer nights become less and less.
1,482 - A sunny day, to sit out on my swing by the lake and read God's Word and journal.
1,483 - Having my weekly lunch with my dear friend and mentor, Marg!
1,484 - Even though I'm feeling a bit confused right now, trusting that God has a plan with the job situation that was offered to me a few weeks ago. (I thought I had made a decision, but the final decision hasn't been made, yet.)
1,485 - Finding things to be thankful for(joy) in the midst of pain.
1,486 - That they were able to find Alex's phone.
1,487 - Seeing how many friends, family, and caring people surrounded this family.
1,489 - Realizing this:

 

1,490 - The latest update, this evening...my friends received a text from a different cell phone, saying it was Alex, that he was o.k. and that he loved them, but that he just needed to be away from everyone for awhile.
1,491 - That my son is healthy and well!
1,492 - Love(God's love) produces all of these things in our hearts:

 

Also linking over to these blog hops:
Heart Reflected Blog Hop
Sunday Stillness (He Cares For You)
Weekend Brew (My Freshly Brewed Life) 
 Soli Deo Gloria Party (Finding Heaven)
 Sharing His Beauty (Beauty In His Grip)
Titus2sdays (Time-Warp Wife)
UNITE (Rich Faith Rising)
Gratituesday (Heavenly Homemakers)
Winsome Wednesday(My Daily Walk in His Grace)  
Watchful Wednesdays (He Cares For You) 
 Word-Filled Wednesday (Woman to Woman)
Thankful Thursday (Divas With A Purpose)
Thrilling Thursday (The Family Blog)