Torn Between Two Feelings

I am so very very happy to announce that my sweet lovely niece (whose wedding I wrote about here) has given birth to the world's most beautiful baby boy. He is the first great-grandchild to be born on both sides of the family, and we are all so excited and relieved and completely thrilled that he is here. I ran to the hospital to see him just hours after he was born.

Yesterday, while still on a emotional high, I discovered that a girl that I had gone to school with had passed away last year after suffering from cancer. I had always liked this girl, and although we had not been in touch after graduating, I did run into her about three years ago at the park. She had been so happy to see me, had proudly introduced me to her husband and children, and greeted my children with a big smile. My shock and sadness at hearing about her death was overwhelming. She was far too young to be taken from her family, and was such a truly good, kind person. The injustice of her death takes my breath away.

So here I am this morning, feeling both extremely happy and terribly sad. Yes, I know, God gives and God takes away. I am very grateful for what God has given our family, but I am very distressed at what he has taken away from another, equally deserving, family.