There really is a God

It's so easy to give up on God when things get tough. Why do bad things happen to good people?

I read a story today that made me realize that there really, truly is a God. And he is good.

Austin Hatch, a 16 year old boy from Charlevoix, Mich., was in a fatal plane crash 8 years ago which killed his 2 siblings, his mother, and left him and his father alive and alone. Over the last 8 years, his father re-married..

On Friday, that same family was in another plane crash that killed his step-mother, his father, and his dog Alli and his other dog, Brady, is missing.

Austin Hatch survived. He is in a medically-induced coma because of bruising on his brain.

Now the amazing part.

This poor kid is going to wake up from his coma to learn that his father and step-mother are dead, and that he has been in yet another plane crash (I'm willing to bet that he will have quite the plane phobia after this!). He is going to learn that his one dog, Alli, has died in the plane crash.

And then he's going to learn that his dog, Brady, has been found 3 km from the plane crash site completely unscathed. Wet, frightened, but completely fine.

So while I sit here reading this story, I can't help but think that this is nothing short of a miracle. It reminds me a bit of Job. God took everything from Job - his family, his flock, his farm, any and all income... and then blessed him greatly. This poor 16-year old kid had his mother, siblings, father, and step-mother taken away and God left him his beautiful white labradoodle to be his companion through, what can only be assumed, will be a lot of mourning.

So... thanks, God, for leaving this kid with someone to love!