Sweat, Chocolate, and Good Deeds: How to Deal with Grief

May 18, 2013 by Diana Anderson Leave a Comment

“If there’s a more helpless feeling than trying to reach someone you love who’s trapped underground, I don’t know it.”

– Katniss Everdeen in Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games Trilogy)

Don’t worry, new Hunger Games fans…the above passage is not a spoiler! The main character, Katniss – revealing backstory – is describing how she felt while waiting to hear whether her father survived a mine explosion. As many of you know, my dad died unexpectedly of what an ultrasound indicated was ventricular fibrillation, that is, an abnormal heart rhythm caused by fluttering contractions of the ventricles. (No autopsy was performed, so I won’t really know until I see him in Heaven.)

A young woman my age whom I met recently at our CrossFit gym is grieving the sudden death of her father, and I find myself fumbling over my words when I try offering any kind of consolation – I thought I would be better at that sort of thing! Maybe it’s difficult for me because while thoughts of Scripture and tidbits of advice swim through my mind I’m teaching her how to perform a barbell clean and one-arm dumbbell snatch. Or maybe it’s because I know deep down that the kindest, warmest hugs and sincerest words of comfort barely make a dent in the ice-hard cloak of grief.

I began this post with the quote from Katniss because when I read it a few nights ago, images and feelings from my dad’s “Graduation Day,” as I like to refer to it, flooded my brain and I was transported back to that gentle slope where I finally said goodbye, where the angels lifted his spirit and escorted him toward the castle of hot pink clouds billowing in the distance. I say “finally” because, though I knew his spirit was already in Heaven, I refused to stop performing CPR and commanding breath to fill his lungs. I felt so helpless, a Katniss said. I was struck with the desperate, terrifying sensation that he was trapped and that I was failing him.

In the days that followed, the Lord was more than good to me; His Spirit never left my side. I didn’t feel the debilitating pangs of guilt that I feared might consume me. No, I felt peace. Peace! Of course I grieved, wrapped myself up in the last light blue oxford shirt he’d worn and cried until no tears were left, but my spirit was serene because I knew exactly where he was and that our separation would be short-lived, “a mist” on the waters of eternity (James 4:14).

It’s almost been four years since Dad’s “Graduation Day,” and the truth is, I still cry sometimes because I want so much to talk with him, to tell him how much I can deadlift (because he really would care more than anyone!), that I can run a near sub-seven-minute mile now, and that my husband shares so much in common with him. I want to ask him for feedback on the novel I’m writing and send him a personalized poem for Father’s Day and see the perfect frame he picks out for it to hang in his office…

I heard a preacher once say that we mustn’t let grief turn to sin. He explained that grief has the potential to prevent us from doing the things God’s called us to; it can trap us like Katniss’s father in an underground mine of suffocating, disorienting darkness.

When I feel sadness settling over me, I’ve found the following five tips tremendously helpful for priming the pump for peace to flow.

1. Let It Out

Bottling up emotions is never helpful. The Bible is full of examples of God’s people mourning – and they weren’t discreet about it. Jacob, for instance, tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and grieved for days after his sons lied and told him his favorite son, Joseph, had been devoured by a wild animal (Genesis 37:34). Even Jesus wept after his friend Lazarus died (John 11:35). What’s important to keep in mind, however, is that God is always faithful to refill our hearts with happiness. He yearns to turn our mourning into dancing and our grief into gladness (Psalm 30:11).

Invite your loving Father to comfort you while you cry. Let his Word wash over you and remind you that your sorrow may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” –Psalm 28:7, NIV

2. Find Someone to Lean On

The Bible says we are to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15). Don’t feel ashamed to let your spouse, a close friend, or family member know that you’re feeling down or depressed. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are to be encouragers for us in dark hours. Talking to them, letting them pray for you, simply having someone keep you company will strengthen and refresh you.

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” –Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NLT.

3. Help Others

Sometimes all it takes to chase away sadness is to bring someone else happiness. The Bible says we’re to not only look out for our own interests, but to the interests of others also (Philippians 2:4). Instead of focusing on what will make you feel better, seek ways in which you can bless others, even if it’s by doing something small like making a phone call to an old friend or cooking dinner for the mom next door whose kids all have the flu. Next time you’re feeling low and decide to extend a helping hand, see if you aren’t rewarded with a gladdened heart.

^“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” –Hebrews 13:16, NIV

4. Work Out

Exercise is a wonderful way to help heal a hurting heart. Physical activity releases endorphins which are your body’s natural chemicals responsible for enhancing mood, improving sleep patterns, and decreasing stress hormones. Try to work out for thirty minutes a day, three to five times a week. For an added bonus, break a sweat in the sunshine instead of indoors. Studies now show that sunshine helps the brain produce more of the mood-lifting chemical serotonin.

5. Eat Chocolate (and other mood-boosting foods)

Meat loaf, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese are all considered classic comfort foods. But eating unhealthily while you’re grieving or struggling with recurring sadness will only exacerbate gloomy emotions. Try to limit refined carbohydrates, such as white breads, crackers, and regular pasta. Concentrated sugars from soda, juice, sugar, and other sweets cause your blood sugar to spike rapidly and then plummet quickly.

Also avoid trans fat. Preliminary research has found a link between trans-fatty acid intake and biological changes that lead to depression. It’s believed that these unhealthy fats cause inflammatory responses in your body that can interfere with mood-boosting neurotransmitters. Notorious for including beaucoups of trans fats in their menu items are fast food restaurants. Other sources include margarine, soups like Ramen noodles, baked goods like doughnuts, gravy mixes, and salad dressings.

The Bible says that in whatever we do, whether eating or drinking, rejoicing or mourning, we’re to do it for God’s glory (1st Corinthians 10:31). So if a neighbor brings you a dozen glazed doughnuts — with sprinkles! — to “cheer you up,” enjoy in moderation, but don’t look to your favorite tasty treats for relief.

Below are a few foods that truly can bring comfort:

Dark Chocolate

Yes, it’s true! A recent study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that just a few ounces of it can result in a better mood by stimulating the production of endorphins. Just don’t overdo it or you may be sad all over again because you’ve gained a few pounds!

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is also another great go-to because of its commendable calcium content. Proper calcium levels alert your body to release feel-good neurotransmitters.

Honey

As most of us know, overdoing it on sugar releases harmful free radicals in our bodies. Even though honey is sweet like sugar, it’s full of beneficial compounds like quercetin and kaempferol that help clean up free radicals and reduce inflammation. Inflammation has negative effects on the brain which can cause us to feel depressed.

“But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” –Psalm 81:16, ESV.

Other mood-elevating foods include eggs, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and Swiss chard.

I pray these tips are helpful to you and that you always remember that the Lord is near to the broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18).

Stay fit, stay faithful ~<3 Di

Filed Under: Grief Tagged With: death, depression, faith, Fit for Faith, fitness, grieving, health, heaven, nutrition, prayer, spiritual attack, storms

4 Signs Your Workout Needs a Facelift

May 13, 2013 by Diana Anderson Leave a Comment

There’s this little thing called entropy at work in the universe, a pesky law of physics whereby everything gradually declines into a state of chaos and disarray. Until the cosmos is restored and made perfect once again – as Acts 3:21 and Revelation 21:1 tell us -, we will be laboring to maintain order in every area of our lives. Children need disciplining. Our spirits need refreshing. Our bodies need healing. Our minds need renewing. Our relationships need rekindling. And let’s not forget the furniture that needs dusting, the lawn that needs mowing, and the hair that needs cutting (or coloring!). And, like it or not, workouts need revamping…which brings me to today’s post!

Two years ago, I knew my workout routine needed a makeover. I’d been doing the same old thing for eight years: spending eighty-minute in the gym either attached to some swanky machine pumping out rep after rep or running or cycling indoors with my iPod or a magazine blocking out the world. The initial infatuation I’d felt for fitness in high school was fading fast. I remember thinking: Will this be how every workout will be for the rest of my life? I don’t think I can keep this up forever! I’m so thankful I was introduced to CrossFit. It was exactly what I needed to renovate my routine, recharge my fitness batteries, not to mention, make me my fittest.

Today I want to share a few of the signs that helped me realize that I needed to make a change before I came down with an affliction informally known as Workout Burnout. If you find that you’re experiencing these so-called “symptoms,” I don’t necessarily want you to believe that I’m prescribing CrossFit classes as your remedy. I do, however, encourage you to think outside the box and be open to exercise activities that perhaps you’ve never tried, even the ones that seem “too intense,” “too challenging,” or “too scary.” Such an endeavor might be just what your body needs.

Sign #1: You’re bored.

Stressing out during squats by thinking of what’s next on your to-do list after your sweat session is over is definitely a sign that your workout fire needs stoking. Even innocuous thoughts regarding what you’ll cook for dinner or what your weekend plans are shouldn’t be occupying your mind, at least not for long. Instead, you should be focusing on proper form and technique, as well as your breathing. In addition, if you’re constantly looking at the clock, your phone, or scouring magazines for something to keep your mind off the tedium of your routine, you need to kick the intensity up a notch or try something altogether new.

Sign #2. You talk too much.

Are you working hard or hardly working? Merely going through the curling, pressing, pushing, rowing and running motions does not guarantee that you’re getting a good workout. When on your preferred cardio machine, be it a recumbent bike or a hilly road, you can use the Talk Test to determine if you are in the Aerobic Zone, or if you’re just…zoned out. To determine if you’re actually challenging and strengthening your heart, you should be able to say a short sentence, catch your breath, and then say a few more words. And you should be sweating! Working out in the aerobic zone will improve your heart’s ability to pump blood and will your increase your lung capacity, which in turn lowers your heart rate.

When you circuit train or do high-intensity training such as CrossFit, you want to be in the Anaerobic -or “Performance” – Zone. You want to perform your exercises at 80-90% of your Maximum Heart Rate, which you can easily estimate by subtracting your age from 220. If you’re able to converse and breathe as you would in a quiet cafe, you’re definitely not in the Anaerobic Zone. Interval training at this level will increase your VO₂ Max, which is the maximal oxygen uptake, or the maximum volume of oxygen that can be utilized in one minute during maximal or exhaustive exercise. It is measured as milliliters of oxygen used in one minute per kilogram of body weight. Those who are fit have higher VO2 Max values and can exercise more intensely than those who are not as well conditioned. Numerous studies show that you can increase your VO2max by working out at an intensity that raises your heart rate to between 65 and 85% of its maximum for at least 20 minutes three to five times a week.[1]

I will mention that talking comfortably isn’t an absolute no-no, but to ensure you’re pushing your body to grow and adapt to become stronger and fitter, you need to put the phone away or tell your workout partner you can chat after your session over a protein shake or wheat grass shot.

Sign #3: You’re sitting too much.

Whether sitting at the pec deck to perform rear delt flyes or reclining at the incline leg press to work the quads, I’m of the opinion that people sit too much during their workouts! These seated exercise generally target just one muscle group at a time, unlike more dynamic, multi-joint, compound exercises that hit multiple muscles at once. A great example of a compound exercise is the squat, which engages many muscles in the lower body and core, including the quadriceps, the hamstrings, the calves, and the glutes.

Isolation exercises, as the name implies, isolate one muscle group at a time. Examples include bicep curls, tricep extensions, and hamstring curls. These exercises are frequently used in physical therapy clinics and rehab centers in order to correct a specific muscle weakness or imbalance that often occurs after surgery, illness, or injury.

Compound exercises are generally preferred and recommended for healthy individuas who want to get the most out of a training program. Here are a few reasons why:

more calories burned during exercise
simulates real-world exercises and activities
allows you to get a total body workout in less time
improves coordination, reaction time, and balance
improves joint stability
decreases the risk of injury during sports
keeps your heart rate up and provides cardiovascular benefits
allows you to exercise longer with less muscle fatigue
allows you to lift heavier loads and build more strength

Sign #4: You’re not getting stronger or looking fitter.

This really could go without saying, but if you’re eating properly, working out consistently, and still not getting stronger or looking fitter, it’s time for a makeover. I had been using the same weight loads and had the same so-so stamina and endurance for years before I checked out of the gym and into a CrossFit box. Now I’m stronger than ever and have achieved better muscular balance throughout my body.

I hope this has been helpful to you. Don’t be discouraged if you identify with one or all of these signs – there is a cure! I’ll be back soon with suggestions for how you can make-over your workout and climb out of your fitness rut!

If you have any questions or would like some feedback on your current training regimen or tips for starting a new one, please contact me through my website fit4faith.com or send me a tweet @Dianafit4faith. If you have time, please check out my Blog Talk Radio program on this topic here:

Stay fit, stay faithful ~<3 Di

[1] FRENCH, J. and LONG, M. (2012) How to improve your VO2max. Athletics Weekly, November 8 2012, p.53

Filed Under: CrossFit Tagged With: CrossFit, faith, Fit for Faith, fitness, health, plateaus, weight-lifting

So Sophisticated: Why the 21st Century is Missing Miracles

May 1, 2013 by Diana Anderson Leave a Comment

Godwink: (n) 1. an event or experience, often identified as coincidence, so astonishing that it could only have come from God. 2. Answered prayer.[1]

Have you experienced Godwinks? If not, or if you’re unsure, I hope the following post will inspire you to ask for and seek them, and then identify them as more than sheer coincidence when they occur.

If you pick up a “Godwinks” book, or simply hop over to author SQuire Rushnell’s Facebook page (see footnote below), you will read amazing accounts and testimonies of God’s perfectly-timed interventions in the lives of praying people. I believe even the most cynical and scientifically-minded readers out there would be hard-pressed to find natural explanations for the stories of people like Nathan Christensen, a high school athlete from a small farming community in Wisconsin…

Nathan was out one night driving his mom’s convertible down a winding country road when he hit a deer and was sent flying, rolling, and crashing over a fence. Kevin Lindow was on his way home from Madison and just happened to reroute on his way home that night, and so was just in time to find Nathan, all alone, sitting on top of his mom’s car, suffering from hypothermia. Kevin just happened to have training from a volunteer fire department and knew exactly how to care for Nathan until the ambulance arrived.

The doctor told Nathan’s parents that if he survived, he would likely be a paraplegic, maybe even quadriplegic.

Nathan’s father, a part-time preacher, sat beside his son’s hospital bed and opened his Bible to the story of Lazarus and began urging his son to “wake up. Tomorrow, you need to wake up, Nathan!”

While in his coma, Nathan had a vision of someone – he couldn’t see his face, but knew instinctively that it was God – leaning down to hug him. He then felt a load being lifted off of him, leaving him with an overwhelming feeling of warmth that lingered two days.

Soon after, Nathan woke up, just as his dad, filled with faith, had told him to do. What’s more, emergency workers concluded that Nathan had been catapulted through the car’s windshield, and that that had saved his life. Otherwise, he undoubtedly would have been crushed to death. But witnesses who examined the wreckage said the seat belt was still snapped closed (cue The Twilight Zone theme song ).

After he awoke from his coma, Nathan was told he’d never return to contact sports due to a teardrop fracture to the C4 vertebra. He immediately began praying for a miraculous healing.

Lying in bed one night, waiting for sleep to come, Nathan heard three loud popping noises – the sounds of a miracle in the making.

At his next doctor’s appointment, the X-ray screen showed zero evidence of an injury.

Suffice it to say, Nathan returned to sports, even leading his wrestling team to wins and a number of pins and breaking all sorts of records as a fullback on the football team.

Sometimes the Red Sea stories of the Bible and “David and Goliath”-type Sunday school lessons seem mythological in my mind — like the tales of Odysseus, Hector, and King Arthur — entertaining, but irrelevant, instead of historical, divinely orchestrated events dotting the timeline to Christ’s first coming. It’s “Godwinks” like Nathan’s, the modern day miracles, that bolster my faith, reminding me that God truly is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Perhaps our 21^st century society, with all of its mind-blowing technology, medical advances, outstanding universities, and endless supply of easily accessible information has silenced the prayers for miracles, which is tragic because the need for miracles is blaring. When we’re thrown from metaphorical cars, slip into spiritual comas, and when the trials of life threaten to paralyze us, perhaps it’s our trust in man that prevents us from feeling the hand of God.

Miracles weren’t just for Old Testament patriarchs or New Testament apostles. They’re for small town boys like Nathan, 21st-century yuppies, college students, stay-at-home-moms, and everybody in between. God wants to hear from us all every…single…day. He wants to exceed our expectations, to lavish his grace, mercy, and best gifts upon us (Eph. 3:20, Matthew 6:26). All we have to do is ask, humbly admitting: “I can’t do this without you.”

Stay fit, stay faithful ~<3 Di

[1] From the Godwinks From God Facebook Page, Facebook.com/GodWinks

Filed Under: Prayer Tagged With: miracles

Top 4 Reasons to Eat with the Seasons

April 25, 2013 by Diana Anderson Leave a Comment

Birds are singing, flowers are blooming, action-packed blockbusters are opening, and ah, yes…the allergies are attacking! This can all mean only one thing: Spring has sprung! And along with the tulips and azaleas, delicious fruits and vegetables like strawberries and Swiss chard are bursting from the soil, eager to be transported to a grocery store or farmers’ market near you.

If you have twenty minutes, check out my Blog Talk Radio interview below with dear friend and fellow fitness enthusiast Marquette Falbo on the best springtime and post-workout snacks:!

Listen to internet radio with The Revolution Of Health on Blog Talk Radio

If you don’t typically buy in-season produce, here are the top four reasons why you should consider starting this spring:

1. Great for Your Wallet

Seasonal foods don’t require nearly as much effort to produce as out-of-season produce. Many in-seasonal foods can grow virtually on their own, which of course requires far less labor and time than procuring food out of season.
Also noteworthy, when foods are in season, there’s more of them! You may find some great supermarket deals as well as two-for-one offers!
When foods are grown in hot houses or another part of the world, the taste will inevitably be affected. Anyone who has tasted a dark red August tomato, fresh off the vine, and compared it with a sickly-looking winter wannabe knows what I’m talking about!

2. Great for Your Taste Buds

Foods that are chilled and handled frequently while being shipped lose flavor with every mile. Fresh and locally harvested foods keep their rich flavors intact.

In addition, I personally think pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving is infinitely more satisfying and enjoyable than it would be, say, on the 4^th of July. Tastes and smells do, after all, have the mysterious ability to conjure vivid memories.

3. Great for Your Body

When fruits and vegetables are left to ripen on the plant, they will contain more nutrients and offer far better flavor than food that is harvested early and ripened artificially.
Seasonal foods have fewer chemicals. Foods that have been picked too early and travel long distances won’t look as appealing as the seasonal ones that grew to their peak. So, to make them look more attractive, they’re often injected with chemical ripening agents, wax coatings, and other preservatives. Yuck!

Fit Fact: Eating spinach in season provides up to three times more Vitamin C than eating it out of season.

4. Great for Our Planet

Seasonal and local foods travel much shorter distances than non-local fruits and vegetables, which may have to go thousands of miles to get to our local supermarkets. Food that is air-mile free means less or even no emissions were involved to get it into our freezers and fridges.

Okay, time to go shopping! Here’s a list of in-season foods that are ripe for the picking this spring!:

April

Artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, pineapples, radishes, rhubarb, spring peas

May

Apricots, artichokes, asparagus, cherries, lettuce, mangoes, okra, pineapples, radishes, rhubarb, spring peas, strawberries, Swiss chard, zucchini

June

Apricots, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, kiwi, lettuce, mangoes, peaches, strawberries, Swiss chard, watermelon, zucchini

The Dirty Dozen

Below is a list of the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables according to the Environmental Working Group. So, whether you’re on a budget and need to prioritize your organic purchases, or you would simply like to know which type of produce has the highest pesticide residues, this is a great help!:

Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes (Imported)
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes

Stay fit, stay faithful ~<3 Di

Filed Under: Health Foods Tagged With: diet, Farmers Markets, Fit for Faith, fitness, health, nutrition, spring

Keep Running. (Plus Some “Super Amazing” News)

April 19, 2013 by Diana Anderson Leave a Comment

The vicious bombings in Boston on Monday. The terrible explosion in West, Texas just two days later. It’s no wonder one of my friends posted a Facebook status asking if anyone could brighten her day with any “SUPER AMAZING” news; the world, after all, seems to grow darker with every sunrise.

If you’re a follower of Christ, then you are probably familiar with – and perhaps a little frightened by – Jesus’ prophecy of wars, violence, earthquakes, famine, pestilence, and the persecution of His followers greatly intensifying in nature and frequency before His return (Matt. 24:6-13). It’s no wonder another one of my friends posted a Facebook status simply praying with precious childlike faith, “Jesus, please hurry.”

With all the chaos, all the attacks, all the uncertainty hovering like dense, unyielding fog over the countryside, certainly no one could be blamed for humbly bowing before God with the question, “Why? Why are things seemingly falling apart?”

I read an article earlier today on the Huffington Post about the Boston tragedy and was struck by the following paragraph:

“The attack may have been timed for maximum carnage: The four-hour mark is typically a crowded time near the finish line because of the slow-but-steady recreational runners completing the race and because of all the friends and relatives clustered around to cheer them on.”

Immediately, Hebrews 12:1 came to mind, a verse President Obama recently quoted when speaking about the bombings:

“ … since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” –Hebrews 12:1, NIV

I am one of those who has asked God “why?” And one of the answers I believe He has revealed to me is simply this: The devil knows his days are numbered.

I know that Satan is not omniscient as God is, nor is he omnipresent. He is a prowling lion, ever on the move strategizing, attacking, and commanding his evil armies and appointing them to various peoples, nations, leaders, and families throughout the earth (1^st Pet. 5:8, Eph. 6:12, Lev. 19:31). But Satan is also an ancient serpent who has been tempting, deceiving, and oppressing God’s people since his forked tongue tickled Eve’s ears with the tantalizing “knowledge of good and evil” (Rev. 20:2, Gen. 3:5). He also knows the Bible well enough to quote Scripture, which you can read about in his dialogue with the promised Messiah during Christ’s forty days in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11). Suffice it to say, while the devil is doomed, he isn’t dumb; he knows Jesus is returning and that the Lake of Fire is being heated up, if you will, right now, just for him (Rev. 20:10).

With the sands of time swiftly sliding into the lower bulb of the ultimate hourglass, it makes sense to me that Satan is doing all he can to cause all hell to break loose on the earth…literally. As the world grows darker, the Church also shines brighter (a fact we mustn’t forget). Like the marathon runners on Monday approaching the finish line to the sounds of deadly, hate-motivated explosions after accomplishing months of incredible discipline and training and 26.2 miles, we are also running – no, sprinting – to the end of this age.

The saints who have died before us – friends, family, the first disciples… – are all watching this race, cheering us on as the spectators were rooting for the runners in Boston. Bombs blast, sickness shakes, earth quakes, and still we’re called to persevere knowing we are “more than conquerors” through Jesus Christ.

My friend who asked for some sunny news on Facebook received numerous uplifting comments and photos, but my favorite was this, simple yet powerful:

“Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love.” –John 15:9-10, MSG

How comforting to know that we are part of God’s family, co-heirs with Christ and citizens of heaven (Rom. 8:17, Phil. 3:20). No matter how bad it gets outside our earthly homes, throughout this swirling sphere of dust, the Father of Light and Love and Justice reigns forever from a place where moth and rust cannot destroy and where all tears will soon be wiped away (Matt. 6:19, Rev. 21:4). Praise God for the blessed hope we have in Jesus’ glorious appearing, this time not as Lamb and Suffering Servant, but as Lion and Conquering King (Titus 2:13). Amen!

Stay fit, stay faithful ~<3 Di

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” –Revelation 21:4