Thoughts of Loss

Papa's brother passed into the portals of heaven last evening. It is bittersweet! He is enjoying the rewards of eternal life with Jesus Christ and we are still here striving to be more Christ-like even in loss. He was a very strong opinionated man, strict ethics, high morals and sometimes even legalistic. One of the qualities I admired about him the most was the legacy he forged in his children. The bible says our children qualify or disqualify us and well if you look at his off-spring they speak volumes of good stuff about their Dad. Papa always said his brother had excellent taste in women and I think that somehow filtered into my being picked to be Papa's wife. One of his best qualities was the ability to forgive even when he did not want to...in the end the Christ in him would win out and he would stop judging others and grant the priceless gift of forgiveness. May we all become better at this. We became family out of a difficult time but remained family out of personal choice on both sides to be accepted and loved. We will miss Ron, we loved him and we know he loved us! Our prayers for added grace during this season of transition for his immediate familyl.

Thoughts of pain and age, etc.

After a busy Thanksgiving week-end with lots of guests, I find myself with an ache in my shoulder. The intensity of the pain is unbelievable; I am having trouble putting my arm in my sleeve and raising my arm above my head. I don't feel old in my head, but the body is another story all together. I was blessed by Papa's revelation last year that our spirits never age, Hallelujah! It would be terrible to wear out all at once. Papa is trouping through everyday himself. His eyesight has deteriorated and there are some challenges ahead. God is still God and we trust in HIS infinite care of our lives. Can't wait for the awesome testimony that will come out of this ordeal. Look out, we will be more than conqueror's. How do I know this.... because God's word declares it to be so. Everything that comes our way is a testimony in the making. Praise God for HIS never ending care of our lives. Pain is fleeting, but life in Christ is eternal.