- I have said the final goodbye to a dear uncle. It is from him that I have a longing to be in a boat, on a lake, on a perfect summer day. Some days I wished I appreciated every boat ride he gave more...though I did appreciate it as much as any 7 year old could! I watched my uncle's body slowly and painstakingly fail him earlier than we hoped. Yet, it has provided me a visible picture that helps me treasure psalm 73:26 that much more, " Though my flesh and my heart may fail, God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
- I have helped welcome three new babies into families I work for and a first child for friends of ours. Clara Joy, Jack, DJ and William have been great joys. It's my prayer for this lady and for the gentlemen and to never know a time when the Lord was not their first and greatest affection and love.
- Though I long and miss his presence, I have seen a great friend and brother in this glorious Gospel move to Florida to do the Lord's bidding there. We miss him (and his love for a good board game) but are glad to see him faithfully following where the Lord has sent him. It's also a plus for him he never did like the Michigan winter.
- I have marveled at the plans and sovereignty of the Lord in the specific areas of heart attack locations, and leg length.
- My only living Grandparent is my mom's mom, who lives in Florida by herself. Not sure the absolute details of everything, but long story short my grandmother had checked herself into the hospital on a Thursday night, as she was not feeling well. She ended up having a heart attack on Friday morning! As it turns out being she was in a hospital, with doctors and medicine close, what would have been a major heart attack (doctor suggested we may not even be talking about my grandmother anymore to my mom) was more of a minor heart attack. She seems to be recovering from as well as any 88 year old woman could!
- My Dad loves basketball. He always has and I am guessing he always will. I remember when I was young he would go play a pick up game of basketball with other adults that loved to play (note if I remember he was older than 40). My dad and I got to go to a MSU basketball game together. In those "spacious" seats (Read- sarcastic) I always realize how long my legs are, 34 inches. My dad who is at least 4 inches taller than me, has shorter legs than me. It was during the warm up for the game I was teasing him about it, we then came to the conclusion that if his leg length were to match his torso length he would most likely be tall enough to be really good at basketball. Knowing his determination and drive to work hard I have no doubt he was a good basketball player (I learned he even played some ball at Ferris). I did the math (all numbers are based on him being 6'3) if he had a 45-55 ratio for leg length to torso (suggested to be "normal") using his torso length he would be 6'6 and if he had my leg length to torso ratio (above average...who would have guessed) he would be 6'10. At that height with his skills, I'm not so sure he would have walked into the Lansing bar he did (when he was in his late 20s) the night he met my Momma. This makes me realize that even height is a part of God's plan!
- I have also been reminded that when there is times of trial there is only one place to go. I was really stressed one week in early March. I don't remember all the reasons I could guess on a lot of them. I was at church one Wednesday evening helping make dinner for one of the church's ministry called Christianity Explored (basically is a ten week program where you eat dinner and then learn about Jesus, some people for the first time...this ministry has become an international ministry, as 90% of the people have been Asians here for school). I remember getting a call from my mom (who was in Florida helping with my grandmother for 2 months) who seemed really stressed herself and that did it for me...the walls seemed to be caving in, I ran for the parking lot. The evening was a perfect cool spring night, I went around the sculpture thing by the front door and backed in to it. Then it hit me the sculpture "thing" is actually a cross. In my stressed panic I had physically ran to the cross, something my selfish mind had not thought to do. I prayed there in the parking lot that my eyes would be fixed on things above and not on earthy things. Did that make my problem go away? Not right then and there, but it did make me see the glory of Christ suffering slightly better, which is better by far.
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4
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