This is my all-time favorite series of movies.  There are ten DVD’s in all now, and I just finished watching all of them again (and that’s not just the second or third time . . .).

Michael Landon, Jr. followed his father’s footsteps (“Little House on the Prairie”) and wrote the screenplay for the first movie “Love Comes Softly”—based on the authentic and inspirational pioneer books by Janette Oke.

He knocked on doors in Hollywood for years before Hallmark finally agreed to make the first movie.  When it aired on TV, it broke all Hallmark records.  So now millions of us are blessed with eight sequential, moving stories of this extended family of faith and courage.  And now there are two prequels just as real and touching.

I guarantee that watching these movies will fix what your family needs, or keep alive the dreams that could be.

Sometimes people much smarter and more educated than I, can give answers to the big “Why?” questions.  I have some of their books and dvd’s, and I listened to many who were giving words of comfort and hope yesterday.  It seems the most helpful answers included simple compassion and saying we don’t have all the answers now–just grief.

There is a truth that seems impossible at first.  In the worst tragedy and grief, we can have hope.

Our hope does not rest in what God thinks, and certainly not in what we think.  Our hope rests in what God says.  He doesn’t have to think, except when He thinks precious thoughts about us.

So,

TRAGEDIES – – – WHAT DOES GOD SAY?

(Please read it yourself, in your Bible.  It tells us what God says.  Here’s how it works:  I opened my own Bible right now to confirm the following verses.  It makes a difference for me.  Don’t take my word for it—get it straight from the Source, from the Strength, for yourself.)

“God is our Refuge and Strength—a very present Help in time of trouble.”     —–Psalm 46

“The thief (the devil) comes to steal, kill, and destroy; I come that you may have life, more abundantly.”      —–John 10

“These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation:  but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”     —–John 16

Hope does not mean things are changed now—hope means they will be changed.

We need hope and comfort.

We need God’s Word, and we need people.

I am no stranger to tragedies.  I’ve been there.  I am there.  It’s hard.  But I have hope.

You can share with me if you need to.  If you ask me to not post your comment, I will honor that.

“FLAME ON”  is a short dvd by friends of mine who lost their only son at 5 years.  You can watch it on the internet or get it from AFA Store.