Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday October 13, 2006

I was reminded this past week of just how wonderfully God has preserved the things that matter most in my life. Most of you know that The Great Blonde and I lost near everything in a storm of trouble several years ago. It seems like a millennium and then it seems like yesterday.

The week past Joyce, the girl of my dreams went for her regular visit to the lady doctor though the doctor is a he, a GYN if you will. She came home with the news that he thought she had a growth and he was concerned about ovarian cancer. A visit for this week on Tuesday was scheduled for further invasive testing. Being the stalwart man of God that I have become I worried myself sick during the entire week.

While at the GYN office on Tuesday with Joyce, Our daughter Dawn showed up, then our son Jon, showed up, along with a few friends. The doctor ran the tests and low and behold, no growth!! No cancer!!! No worry! Ha. I worried and mentally prepared myself for nothing!!

It came to me that in reality our family has lost nothing of eternal value. We love Jesus and He loves, and we have and love each other.

George Horace Lorimer wrote about this kind of wealth:

"It's good to have money (Amen) and the things that money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure you haven't lost the things that money can't buy."

When the doctor told Joyce that her remaining ovary was "In very good condition considering your age," she shot back with, "Doctor, you could have stopped at condition." They're never satisfied.

Over the years the Lord Jesus has taught Joyce and me the value of cherishing each other and the children and of course the grand children. Hey, we even cherish our dogs and the grand children's dog. Cherish is a good word to learn and implement in family relationships. It has the idea of a brooder which farmers know helps to keep the chicks warm. Jesus used the concept when He told the people of Jerusalem:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!" Luke 13:34

One man told me that I should be ashamed of myself for worrying. I agree, but I worry anyhow when a loved one is sick. I pray too, but probably not as fervently as this man. He is a real giant of the faith, though his family doesn't pay much attention to him.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit

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