9,308 Days: Entry 6

4/28/26 - grateful

Dear God,

Tonight, I didn’t have to pretend. My smile came naturally, and my laughter was real. Something I’ve been searching for found its way back to me: joy. I caught myself in the middle of it and paused, just to take it in. For those moments, I wasn’t thinking about the pain, the memories, the anger, or the frustration. Life felt light again.

When I realized what I was feeling, I almost started to cry. It reminded me that You are still restoring me, even in the places I thought would never feel alive again. You are putting me back together, piece by piece.

It has only been four and a half months since my father passed, and I didn’t expect to feel this so soon. But tonight gave me hope. It reminded me that sorrow won’t last forever and that joy really does come in the morning. I know there are still days ahead where Your joy will continue to restore me and give me the strength to keep going.

Over these past months, I’ve started to realize what truly matters. It’s so easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing and to overthink things that don’t really matter. But at the end of the day, none of that holds weight. We’re all trying to live our best lives. We’re all just trying to live, trying to find fulfillment, joy, and understanding in our own way. What we choose as our source for those things makes all the difference.

For anyone reading this, I’ll say it simply: your best life is found in Christ. So let’s love, forgive, and show grace the way He does.

God, You’ve been teaching me not to overthink and not to rush through life. You’re teaching me to slow down, to enjoy the little things, and to live without carrying so much worry. You’re showing me how to appreciate the people around me and to stay open to the people You’re bringing into my life. Most of all, You’re teaching me to trust that You are restoring me, piece by piece.

Life is too short to get caught up in things that don’t matter to Your kingdom.

I know my father would want me to keep living and enjoying life. I can still hear him saying, “Really, Lisa?! Get up and keep going.”

Papi, I miss you so much.

And so God, tonight reminded me that I’m not alone. You are still with me. Thank You for not giving up on me, even when I felt like giving up on everything. All I can hold on to is this:

“To console those who mourn in Zion,

to give them beauty for ashes,

the oil of joy for mourning,

the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

that they may be called trees of righteousness,

the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Isaiah 61:3

I am grateful, God.

I love You.

Your daughter,

Melissa.