a letter to his son

We have never met, but I feel like I know you.  Your dad spoke of you often.  His love for you was evident.  You filled his heart with such pride.

Each week he would be sitting there waiting for my visit.  I would sit down beside him and touch his hand.  His eyes would light up and a huge smile would form.

“It is Wednesday, I knew you would be coming,”  he would say.

I would hold his hand and we would talk.

Some days it was hard for him to accept that his life had reached this point.  His independence was gone and he didn’t want to be a burden to you.  Other days he would talk about days gone by.   Each day you were part of the conversation.   Finally,  we would pray.  His love for Jesus was also evident.

“You be sure to stop and see me next week,”  he would say as I got up to leave.   I would assure him that I would do just that.

I went to work yesterday and found out that he has passed from this life to the next.

I miss him.  I miss his smile.  I miss the way his eyes would sparkle when he was excited about something.   Yet, the realization that he is no longer using a walker, nor is his eye sight failing, his fight with sleep is no longer an issue but most importantly  he is with his Lord – this brings comfort to me.  I hope that this brings you comfort also.

Losing a father leaves a hole.  May God fill that hole with His peace.  Time does not heal all things.  It is God that brings healing.  God will use time to help you learn how to go on.   May you sense God’s comfort  today and in the days to come.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”  Psalm 23:4

    “Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of His saints.”   Psalm 116:15

Being his chaplain was a blessing to me.

Sincerely,

Your father’s chaplain – your father’s friend

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Any advertisements that you see on this blog are placed here by WordPress.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

mother’s day done different

This year we did a couple of things different at church. First, we changed our Mother/Daughter Banquet to Daughters of the King luncheon.  Not having daughters, the death of my own mother (a little over a year ago,) and losing my daughter-in-law this past year, I just personally couldn’t do one more Mother/Daughter anything.

Daughters of the King

What I didn’t know when we changed the name was that my mother-in-law would go to be with Jesus a couple of weeks ago.  Considering that I was in charge of the food for this event, God knew how important a name change would be to my heart.

Our speakers were fantastic.  God took each one and weaved a beautiful theme of value and love.

Mother’s Day Sunday – we did another new thing!

flowers ready for first service!

We acknowledged all women.   It is kind of long, but here it is if you want to read it.

To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you
To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you
To those who walk the hard path of infertility, – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.
To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you
To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you
To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you
To those who lost their mothers – we grieve with you
To those who have lost a child – we mourn with you
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience
To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst
To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own children – we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be
To those who step-parent – we walk with you on these complex paths
To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren -yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with you
To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you
To those who placed children up for adoption — we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart
To those of you who are single moms – we come along side you recognizing that you are both mom and dad to your child. You are not alone. We are here for you.
And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you
This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.
To those who serve as role models to young girls, remember that little eyes are watching. We encourage you to live for Christ and set a good example.
We would invite all women, ages 16 and up, to come forward, select a flower and candy as a small token of our appreciation for you.
(This letter was originally written by Amy Young (messymiddle.com) but has been tweaked just a bit.)

So to all the women out there, know that you are valued.

God rejoices over you with singing.  (Zep 3:17)

As for the men in my life.  They rocked the whole mother’s day thing for me.  Last year was rough.  God does turn our ashes into beauty. (Isaiah 61:3)  We have so many things to be thankful for.

We learn from the past, we live in the present, and we have hope for the future.  Our life is in God’s hands.  Our hearts are in His keeping.  He is for us!!!

from hubby – no I am not his mother, but I am the mother of his children.

A corsage take me back to my childhood and my own mother. Such wonderful memories! Thanks Babe for remembering.

waiting for me from Andrew – he had to work after first service

venison steak – from Chris.  mmmm the best!  And a beautiful card.  A new tradition has been started.  Thank you Chris!

To all my women friends out there, please know that you are valued.  God loves you.  He is an ever-present help in trouble.  (Psalm 46:1)

“ She is clothed with strength and dignity;  she can laugh at the days to come.”  Proverbs 31:25

til next time,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Any advertisements that you see on this blog are placed here by WordPress.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~