Last evening, I had a conversation with a dear friend that ranches with his family in the Sandhills of Nebraska. We had not talked since last spring, and we got beyond frivolous talk right away and just opened our hearts to share the victory and struggle of life.

He had been following our weather situation and just wanted to know how things were and let us know that they were praying for us. I have no doubt that he has had our family on his heart during our drought. He then asked about family members and their health situation. His tender heart shows through in every conversation that we have.

I was then able to ask how he and his family were doing. He lost a precious daughter who was also the mother to his little grandsons in a tragic and somewhat freak accident last spring on the ranch. It was my turn to listen...

In our conversation... I learned they had a very good year in agriculture... plenty of rain... good grass.. and a stockpile of hay. Certainly not the pain of drought and heat. But I could not ignore that I was not experiencing the heartache of losing a child.

Pain comes in different forms... And it is good when friends recognize that and are supportive of each other. This friend of mine and myself share a common foundation in that we know God is our sustainer. And that is how our conversation concluded. We know that we are not immune to the difficulties that life on this earth presents. We know that our hope is in Christ.

We walk by faith, not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7).