Christmas, a widow, and a 5 year old son

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"joy in heaven; joy on earth", Christmas, gratefulness

I just read of a group of people who presented a new home to a military widow and her son, Sara and Landon Wood, in Houston TX.  It was given to them by “Operation Finally Home” during half-time of a football game yesterday.  They were able to get her to the game (Houston Texans versus the Carolina Panthers), the first Texan game she had seen, by asking her to receive a memorial for her husband Scott.  She was overwhelmed by the gift of the house, of course.

As I read it I choked up, and am still, as I write this.  I know that there could be a variety of mixed motives involved in how the gift was presented; I don’t want to be Pollyannaish.  But, I also know that the joy of a lady and her five year old son demonstrates that not everything is hellish in this world.   The folk involved in the project weren’t forced to build and give this house.  They did it, basically, out of the goodness of their hearts.  And, I actually feel the sensation in my throat as I note this down.  “I am happy for you, Sara and Landon, as you have been offered a new stage in your life together.”  By the way, although Landon knows his father will not return, he talks to Scott in heaven!!

There may be joy in heaven when a sinner is rejoined with God.  Here on earth, I know some joy when I witness, if only via a computer screen, some folk contributing to the wholeness of a widow.  In fact, isn’t that one of the basic expressions of generosity that we Christians are commanded to do??  Yes, of course, it is.

 

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Leaving, or going home?

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death, gratefulness

The following was written over five years ago by a man who was wrestling with life and death questions.  I ran across it within the past several days.  Perhaps the day may come in all of our lives when our conditions will be similar to his.  In the meantime, we can envision, perhaps prepare, and even now identify with some of his thoughts.  [The author made it plain to me that he wishes to be anonymous.  He said he is not looking for sympathy.  He will be gratified, however, if his reflections can strengthen someone, as well as point to the reality that is available to God’s children.]

     The past 7 days have been very difficult.  Last Thursday, when Ann met with her oncologist, he told her that the symptoms of the presence of cancer had jumped over 50%.  The efficacy of her current treatment had bottomed out.  New measures would be necessary, measures that would have more noticeable and negative side effects.  Blood work and scans, some already done, would help him arrive at a new assessment of her situation. 

            We have done some crying together since this new development.  We know that unless the Lord does some kind of miracle, time is getting rather short for us.  Daily I pray more times than I bother counting for Ann’s healing.  I also pray that she will be spared pain.  She is having to deal with the thought of the worsening of the cancer and the resulting death.  She is incredibly gutsy, but death is still death. 

            Last night, when we gave each other the Valentine cards, it was painful, of course.  We talked about facing reality.  But even with that, the reality is more than what the future brings.  Reality is also today.  And, the future is more than sickness and death.  It is also heaven.  Acceptance of reality involves all of that.

            We are committed to enjoying the time we have together.  Yes, I want it to not have any kind of separation, but that is not reality for either of us.  We are both in bodies that are like ships that will eventually sink.  We don’t know precisely when the storm may come for either of us, but we do know that eventually the storm arrives, and the ship goes under.  In the mean time, we enjoy sharing the journey each other has.

            But, I still get very emotional.  Yesterday, when I saw Ann, accompanied by one of her friends, leave for a little outing, I thought of the fact that one day, an angel will accompany her to the Lord’s presence.  Yes, I will miss her beyond words, but she will be better off.  The angel will not as much be taking her away from me, but taking her home.  I will have had the privilege of her presence for these many years, but she is still more God’s daughter than she is my wife.  I have to stop – it hurts too much.

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Complain? No, count.

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"mechanical hand counter", aging, gratefulness, sleeplessness

He was old, at least that is what most of us would say about someone who had reached 92 years, 4 months, and 17 days.  But, he wasn’t a tired old man.  That is why he couldn’t sleep that April night.  His bed was one of two in the small room that was labeled “assisted living” by the owners of the facility.  In the other bed was his wife, sleeping soundly and completely unaware of her husband’s restlessness.

At 92 years of age, after formal education, 55 years as a pastor, preparing sermons, comforting the bereaved, counseling the youth, raising a family, 65 years with the nicest lady in the parish, the father of three, two reverends and a daughter-wife of a pastor, he now had time on his hands.

So, at 11:15 pm “what do I do?” was in his mind.  He went to his little desk, found the mechanical hand counter that you operate with your thumb, walked to the window that overlooked the intersection where the facility was located, checked the clock for a starting point, and began to press his thumb for every vehicle that went underneath the traffic light – there were no sheep.

Using the hand counter to be accurate, from 11:15 to 11:30 he pressed it 115 times.  But, Merv didn’t complain about his situation.  No, not Merv.  Rather, he said to himself after those 15 minutes and looking at the hand counter, “this retirement center is at a strategic place for publicizing to the public.  Wow!!  Thanks, Mr. Paul, for your foresight!”

With that thought in his mind, all was well.  He went back to his bed, counted his blessings, and went to sleep.

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