I don’t have “Easter pictures” this year.  The dressed up polished up pastel colored kind.

Justin was all chemo side effects this morning. Stomach pain, foot pain, mouth sores.

I snapped this one instead. It’s not beautiful in the matching outfits white shoes sunshiny kind of way.

But there is beauty. And it’s all in what you cannot see. It’s the mother who picked herself up. Again. It’s the husband who prayed for her. It’s the person who knew the right words to say. It’s the nail-scarred hands that are surely there or it would all come apart.

To all of you loves who also don’t have a picture perfect pastel picture today. Because of illness. Because of death. Because of broken relationships. Because of reality.

Your strength, your character, your perseverance. That is real. That is beautiful. Let it be shown. Grace be with you, my friends.

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart. ~Helen Keller