Today I sit here wondering “what is my Purpose?” I’m not completely sure what Jesus plans are for me but I believe it has something to do with comforting people.

My heart aches when I watch the news. I am extremely troubled by the things going on in the world today. It makes me want to reach out to those in pain and tell them that no matter what, everything is going to be alright in the end.

We live in a harsh world and sometimes all people need is someone to speak a kind word to them, give them a pat on the back or provide a smile that lets them know someone cares.

Homeless people need to know that they are not invisible and in spite of their situation we still see them, we still acknowledge them and we pray that things will get better for them.

Heartbroken people need to know that even though their relationship did not work out there is something better on the horizon and when one door closes, a better one will open.

Depressed people need to know that “Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5).” In other words, no matter what we are going through, if we just hold on for a little while longer the sun will shine in our backyard again.

When I say these things, some people look at me as though I’m some type of excessively cheerful or optimistic person, a “Pollyanna.” They probably think, “if she had my type of pain she wouldn’t be so eager to say everything is going to be alright.

Let me tell you something, everyone has pain. Life is full of pain, but your recovery is all about how you deal with it.

My first born child, my beloved son, passed away expectantly Nov. 10, 2014; he was 55 years old. That was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with and the hardest thing my family ever had to deal with.

I cried. I screamed. I ranted. I questioned why this had to happen. No one expects to outlive their child. We expect our children to bury us. Yet through all the pain, through all the sorrow, through all the anger and grief, I knew that in the end, everything was going to be alright. I knew that no matter what, Jesus was in control and he was going to see me through. I thanked Him for allowing me and my family to be at my son’s side as he made his transition. I thanked him because through my beloved child’s death, something wonderful came about: my remaining five children became even closer.

Ever since my son’s transition, my children have been checking in with each other practically every day. They send a group text to sometimes harass each other and other times to simply say I love you. My heart is filled with joy knowing how much they love each other. Nothing can replace my son, but what Jesus gave me as a way of comfort is knowing my kids have each other and no matter what and they are going to be alright.

Jesus is love and He wants you to know that. He loves you no matter what’s going on in the world. So again, what is my purpose — I don’t truly know right now, but I believe Jesus wants me to be there to provide comfort, to lend a helping hand or just to say everything will be alright in the end, because no matter what, it will be.

Mary Simmons is a columnist for The K-V Dispatch. She can be reached at ABoxofLoveKVD@gmail.com.