Little things often bring us joy. Today, my son, Brian helped out in my grandson’s classroom. I am often inspired by him. He juggles so many things with work, kids, meals, leading boy scouts, his wife’s illness…yet, he creates fun for his family. We are so lucky to know this son of ours. So very proud.
I tried a new recipe today, I think they look pretty festive. Moments. We take each moment to be thankful.
We spend most of our lives just trying to get by. We work to create a life that sustains with hopes that one day, we will live a time with ease–or to do those things we don’t have time for, while “doing life”. Yet, this is often not the case. In spite of this, along the journey our lives touch other lives and they impact us forever.
Yesterday, I attended the funeral of my friend’s husband. He, in his 58 years, had earned much praise for the person that he was. A man so loved by all who knew him. A talented craftsman, family man. Much love and laughter filled the life that he and my friend created. My heart is breaking for her as she must journey on without the man that she fiercely loved. From this moment on, she will need much support and love.
As I was sitting there, waiting for the proceedings, I looked around at others attending. Some relatives, some friends, some friends of relatives. Each were touched in some way by my friend, her husband, her family. Some were friendships that my friend and I had created from where we work. Each touched in some way. Attending a funeral often causes us to think of our own mortality. Some, for this reason, avoid funerals. For those that remain, it is a final goodbye, a time to honor a life lived or just wanting to be a support to those we care about.
God, in His wisdom, created each one of us, wonderfully. He has a purpose for each of us, the lives we will touch, connecting on this earth. Preparing us for life eternal. He alone, knows the number of days we will remain on this earth. I feel so lucky for all those He has placed in my path. Isn’t that what He created us for? To love Him, show that love to others and let others know how much He loves us and wants all of us to meet our loved ones and those we “brush elbows with” in heaven whenever that time may be.
Death, even though we know that it happens to all of us, don’t want to think about it. I have been thinking about it a bit recently, being that they have updated my daughter-in-laws diagnosis to only four months.We have the illusion that we will have as long as we want. We are not in charge of that. For some, it comes suddenly without a moments notice, for some, they have a long journey of pain and suffering. I do not begin to understand why these things are so, yet I believe there is a purpose for whatever journey we have.
I remember when my grandson was going through chemotherapy, my son wrote about fear. That fear of losing something that you have. I feel that if we have that fear and that heartache of losing someone close to us, that also means that we were lucky enough to have someone in our life of such value that we fear losing that.
My friend had that person of much value in her life that she was lucky enough to spend almost 40 years of marriage with.
May we always keep eternity in mind as we go about our life each day. Remembering, as my mother wrote in her own eulogy, that love is the most important thing.
Since, my daughter-in-law’s diagnosis, I have been trying to clarify my thoughts. You want the very best for your children and don’t want them to struggle. I can’t imagine how Jinn is trying to wrap her thoughts around the diagnosis that they have given and how to still have hope. As a mother of an eleven year old and a nine year old — as a young woman who left her family, her country, her friends and everything she knew for the man she loves, to an unknown country and culture.
Again,she faces the unknown. That the doctors are accurate or that she isn’t given the “at best, two or three years”. I want to help her, yet I struggle to know what I can do. I see and hear the pain in my son, as he tries to keep positive. Since he was a little boy, he has looked at the possibilites in life. Yet, especially after going through cancer treatment with his son and all that entails treatment, he knows the difficulties that lie ahead. Let alone, the woman he loves and has made a life with has this dire diagnosis.
I have always been taken by the verse in Proverbs 27:1, it states “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day will bring.” and also James 4:13-14a “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. “James 4:15 “Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
When we received the news of Luke’s diagnosis. we flew right out to Seattle to be with Andy while Brian and Jinn were doing what they had to at the hospital to start Luke’s treatment. The day before at work, I had promised someone that I would be there the next day to accomplish whatever needed to be done. Of course, it was not the Lord’s will to promise that. Prideful on my part. Since that day, I have been more mindful of the plans that I try to make. As someone, who always wants to come through on statements that I make, no matter what.
When people get dire diagnosis, such as the one that Jinn has received, I cannot help but think–everyday, we think that we have tomorrow–we count on it. Yet, we are not even promised our next breath. It is only by the grace of God that we have that breath, that day. We have the illusion that each day will be there. I am sure that Brian and Jinn, as much as they are able, try to make memories every day. Should we not do the same?
I pray for many years for them, despite the doctors diagnosis. I believe in a God that is bigger than cancer. I do not begin to understand the ways of God. His ways, His thoughts are bigger than I can comprehend. I don’t try to understand why some people are healed and some are not. For this is not for me to know, this side of heaven. I do believe that God loves all of us and has a reason for everything He does. Even, if we don’t understand the why. I can’t go “there” in my head. I do know that He said that in this life we would have trouble,(Isn’t that the truth!) but He would be there with us to give us strength and peace through it. I will not stop believing that God will heal Jinn. I will not give up hope. I believe in a God that can do more than we ask or imagine.
Some may say that I am naive. My dad for many years before he passed was a walking time-bomb with an aortic aneurism the size of a softball, according to the doctors, as he was not a candidate for surgery. I remember a few months before his passing, he told me to prepare myself. I told him that I wasn’t going to, for then he wouldn’t go. As it turned out, my theory was flawed and yes, at that time, I was naive.
Yes, I know that the doctors could be right, and she could only have two or three years or less…but, until I see otherwise, I am going to hope for that which I can’t see.
Luke 12:25 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Worrying cannot add to Jinn’s life, yet I can talk to the God who loves her more than anyone and ask for His healing hand. Which I will continue to do
I continue to have hope! That is my clarity of thought.
My daughter-in-law, Hyunjin has been having some health issues that they have been going to doctors for since August. My son, called me yesterday with what the latest news is. I am sharing his Facebook post below.
Yet… I believe in a God that can do the impossible and I am praising Him for the impossible He will do through this situation.
One verse that always comes to me is : Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:4,5
I am trusting in the God who loves me and you.
“As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” Psalm 71:14
This year, was the first time after three years that both my kids and their families were together. God has been so very good to us. I say, “lucky” but, it is really all God.
I should have gotten a family photo but, there was so much going on, I missed doing that.
We are still so lucky to have them all over!
Today was Leonard’s 67th birthday. He likes to get gifts. This year, I only got him one gift, but he was so excited to get it.
I was lucky to find his jeans locally. So, it was quite a surprise for him. I love that!
This year, my decorating left a lot to be desired but, luckily he thought it was great.
Happy Birthday to my hubby and… many mooore! 🙂
Friends enrich our lives in so many ways. Especially long time friends.
Whether we see those friends only briefly or on a regular basis, they so bring joy to our lives. So blessed and lucky are we!
Here my daughter had a special time with her friend since Kindergarten, Devin and her very special friend, Kyungjin. Kyungjin was a foreign exchange student Tina’s senior year in high school. They had a very close friendship.
After making valances for our living room windows, I had lots of leftover fabric.
I decided to make tote bags for my daughters students. Then found age appropriate books to add. She will be handing them out Friday so they can use the tote bags for Halloween. I hope they like them.
I’m not sure when we started having “dumps” or landfills. I do know that people used to put things they didn’t want anymore on parts of their property away from their living space.
Obviously, in times past, they probably didn’t have as much waste as we do now. In any case, our property did have older items out in the woods. Leonard found some hubcaps that we found kind of fun.
Even though I think summer is my favorite season. All the other seasons have a beauty all their own. We are so lucky to live in an area where we can witness God’s marvelous handiwork!
This year, the colors are breathtakingly beautiful!!
bible.com/bible/111/psa.130.5.NIV
We Are the Lucky Ones 