Encouragement

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As I write this I am sitting in a hospital room beside my mother’s bed thinking about the past three weeks. So much has happened. So much pain. So much grief. So much loss.

Three weeks ago my 39-year old daughter-in-law, Teresa, traveled a distance to sing with a group at the retreat my son, Brett, was attending. She drove home, picking up my nine-year-old grandson, Chris, from her sister’s house along the way. Arriving late, she put Chris to bed and then went to bed herself, planning to meet me at church the next morning. She went to sleep—and never woke up again on this earth. She had gone home to be with the Lord.

How could this happen? A healthy young woman with so much to live for. How could she leave us so unexpectedly? So quickly?

So much pain. So much grief. So much loss.

Eight days later my 82-year old mother fell and cracked some ribs. Two days later she fell again. Five days later she fell a third time and has been in the hospital ever since. We have decisions to make. Nursing home? Physical therapy? Getting the needed help for her and my dad. How to prevent more falls. Where do we go from here?

So much pain. So much confusion.

And yet as I think about these three weeks I see something else. . .

I see God’s love guiding my son to give his wife a huge surprise party for her 39th birthday. . .only a month before she died. Friends wondered, “Why a 39th party—why not wait for the 40th?” Now we know.

I see God’s love and protection guiding me in December to change from a staff position to freelance work. Now I am so much more available for my son and grandson and parents at a time when I am very much needed.

I see God working miracles as a woman in Michigan is born again after hearing about Teresa—within hours after her passing.

I see God at work as he deeply touches the lives of the men at the retreat Brett was attending. I see marriages touched and strengthened as these men suddenly realize how precious their wives are to them.

I see more than 2000 people at the funeral home expressing their love and their concern and their appreciation for the way their lives had been touched by Brett and Teresa as they continually demonstrated the love of Christ by reaching out to others.

I see the love of God expressed through our church family in so many ways. Prayer. Food. Errands. Just being there. And so much more.

I hear people (myself included) saying that their lives are going to change as they are inspired by the memory of Teresa’s love for others. Always, always stepping forward to help people in need. Family, friends and strangers in a crowd.

I think of the many people praying for us across the country--and in other parts of the world.

I am so thankful for God’s love and for believers who respond to Him when just the right person calls my son at exactly the moment he needs someone to pray with him, to be there.

I see Christ-like love in the people who are reaching out to Chris in so many ways.

I see God’s love and mercy and grace as He comforts Brett and Chris, as He takes them through a healing process, and as He gives them hope.

And while all this is still so new, so fresh, here I am in the hospital with my mother—and thinking of my 86 year old dad and how difficult all this is for him. We have tough decisions. . .tough changes. . .tough choices to make. My mom is hurting—physically and emotionally.

And yet…I see the love and concern of our church family. I see the wonderful doctors and caring nurses God has provided. And most of all I remember God’s love for each of us and am assured that He will show us the way. He will give us the strength.

Yes, the past three weeks have brought extreme pain and sorrow and loss. In so many ways our lives will never be the same.

But also the past three weeks have brought increased awareness of God’s love and mercy and grace. They have brought a deeper understanding that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” They have produced a deep awe of how God has prepared the way for these changes—and how He has already brought good from them—including a soul saved. And I know there will be so much more revealed as time goes on.

I have an increased appreciation for dealing with one day at a time. And I know that God will see us through each one. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know that He has a plan for our future—and that it is a good plan. I know that as we look to Him and trust Him, He will work all things together for good. I know that our hope is in Him and Him alone.

Be strong and take heart,

all you who hope in the LORD.

Psalm 31:24 NIV

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