Today has been one of those days where paying $1.79 for a Snickers candy bar is worth it. Under normal circumstances I cannot bring myself to pay that for a candy bar. But today? Well, let’s just say I needed that addictive sugar. I have been on an eating-healthy lifestyle change and while it has not been a stellar journey by any means, it has been an improvement. One of the things I have learned on this journey is that stress = carbs. And most of the time, I do pretty good keeping that under control. but not today.

There is a saying that bad things happen in threes. I honestly do not believe in superstitions, but today, I am almost convinced of that one!

My day started with learning that the hoarseness and vocal difficulty I am having will never go away. A tough pill to swallow for someone who does public speaking. I am a talker–I understand that about myself–and yet I have found my ability to talk for extended periods of time hampered by my vocal issues. I was discouraged as I walked out of the doctor’s office. But, I figure that God still has a plan for me. Even though I am highly disappointed, God can still use me in ways I have yet to discover.

However, that was not the worst issue faced today.

It is not my place to share the specifics of one of the things I learned today. But it is significant and life-impacting for several people. It was hard to hear and I will continue to pray for that situation.

The hardest thing I faced today was the sharing with a dear friend who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. That one has left me devastated. Once again, it is not my place to share her news on social media. The people who need to know will.

During my conversation with her, she reassured me she is at peace. She knows her Savior and she is looking forward to meeting him face-to-face. I am pretty sure she comforted me more than I comforted her. My heart is aching and my tears have been flowing off and on all afternoon. They are rolling down my cheeks even as I write this.

I am sure that one day I will share a whole lot more about my friend–once her journey here is done and she is rejoicing in heaven where there is no more pain and sorrow. But for now, I am going to let myself indulge in more tears and spend some time praying for her and her family.

I can’t help but think about how Jesus felt when his friend Lazarus died. He wept. He knew that Lazarus would be resurrected, both in his body and someday again in his spirit, and yet he wept because of the sorrow Martha and Mary experienced. I cannot help but think that maybe he weeps a little bit with me today as I experience the sorrow of knowing I am going to lose a dear friend and sister in Christ.

It has been a difficult day and I am sure that later in the day I will regret giving in to that candy bar. But I am not going to beat myself up for it because the cost of $1.79 is little in the scheme of things. I wish all of life’s problems could be solved with a candy bar.