So why The Lemonade Stand? One day I was telling a dear friend about the latest development in the crazy stress that is my life and she remarked “You sure have had to make a lot of lemonade.” I joked back, “I’m about to open a lemonade STAND!” We giggled and went on. But the thought wouldn’t leave me alone.
If when life hands us lemons, we are supposed to make lemonade, then a lemonade stand should be the place where life’s lemons actually turn into something that benefits us and other people. As I turned the idea over and over in my mind, realizing that indeed God has specifically told us that there is purpose in our suffering, and believing that with all my heart, the Lemonade Stand was born.
Over the painful times in my life, I’ve learned a few things about hardship. Here are some basic foundational truths I want to share that can bring you hope if you are in pain.
Heartache brings you closer to God. Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the broken hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The “Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief” can be known in a new way when we can identify in a small part with His suffering.
Hardship makes you a better person. Hard times equip you for a good life. James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters when you face trials of many kinds. Because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Your pain gives you a unique ability to help others. Some comfort can only be given by someone who has “been there.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
In the grief I have endured in my life, all these beliefs have proven true for me. Today, I launch this podcast on the anniversary of the tragic death of my nephew, Noah Jeffries. My brother’s only child and my parents’ first grandbaby, our Noah was our family’s treasure. He was a beautiful young man, smart, kind, healthy and full of promise. His life was ended in a tragic accident. Noah’s death came in the middle of some really tough years in our family. We lost our Daddy, our sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, and then our beautiful Noah was snatched away from us. I tell you this lest you think that I’ve been speaking in platitudes. Friend, I speak as a person who bears scars, knows grief, and has seen dark days. These truths aren’t just nice ideas. They’ve been the reason I’ve survived to tell my story. Am I glad for all the loss and pain? Nope. If I could change it, I’d bring back our Noah and our Dad, erase my sister’s scars, take away my children’s pain. Would I want to do any of that again? No way. However, in my grief, the straight up lemon I had to drink was made drinkable by these truths: I got closer to God. I became a better person. I learned how to comfort other people who are suffering.
Pain is part of life. We cannot stop it, but we do not have to let it destroy us. I want to encourage you today that your pain is not without purpose. You can survive this. You can thrive. And You can overcome.
