Forever in our hearts

We are sitting at the airport and waiting to head home after spending the last few days in a rush to get here, meet and attend the funeral. Now it is over.

It was a week since we heard the news about Fred being in the hospital and close to death. It was a flurry of deciding when and how to get flights and where to stay and who is coming. Now, within the week, we have that all behind us now. We are heading home. Everything is done except for the emotions.

It was an excellent tribute to a man and a life well lived. People, relatives, friends and even those we don't know were comforting and caring. Although the weather was great at first, it was overcast and drizzling the full day of the funeral. It rained the hardest at the graveside. That service was the shortest. We had laughs and tears, sadness and joy. We were so happy that Faith's health improved enough in a few days to actually attend the service in a 'ly-down' bed and a nurse to accompany her. It appears with the change of medication, she has been getting better every day. Our last visit with her this morning at the hospital indicates she is on the mend physically. Emotionally, she will need time. We all will.

What it did was bring the family together. Some of us have not seen each other - besides pictures -for many years. Some unfortunately were not able to come so will miss that part of the week which unified and cemented our relationships. We will need to reach out to them in support and encouragement and share the moments we had so they can 'feel' the warmth and love that was extended and shared in our times together.

A special man is gone. We will miss him. He was loved and will continue to be in our thoughts and in our hearts.

Abide with Me

Interesting post this morning from 100 Huntley Street with a video clip of 'Abide With Me'. As I watched the video and read the words to this well known hymn, it was a comforting message, possibly direct from my brother-in-law himself. Inbetween worlds right now...hanging on here...but so ready for THERE. As his children rally to gather around him from different geographic locations, he waits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxqylxfYyQM

Praying

My brother-in-law Fred is in hospital. The reason? A brain bleed. They are not sure why but have said he will not make it. Earlier this year he had a heart attack and although he worked hard to 'come back' from it, it has been a struggle to regain his strength. A week ago, his wife Faith fell down the stairs of their home. The result? a fractured back and a concussion. Things keep working against them and yet they are still drawn together. While Faith is in the hospital, Fred, who is on his own, ends up there, as well, a few days later by ambulance. The scenario is not good, however. They both are ill, yet against all odds, they are brought together by staff for one last time. Where is God in all of this? Can you not see it? The couple who have been together for over 50 years, the brilliant engineer who accomplished so much, was the same man who could not remember where he put his glasses and who continuously asked for help from 'Faithie' his faithful and loving companion. That is love. The 'ying' and the 'yang'. 

Two faithful, purposeful individuals, together serving their God for their lifetime. Two believers who trusted Him with their lives, their finances, their futures. The time is arriving for their departure and they are more than ready to see their faith become reality.

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us. O Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 33:20-22

Words to live by...

I went to a beautiful funeral yesterday. Kristen was an amazing young woman, very talented, gifted in so many ways. Her 'claim to fame' will likely be her faith in God and how she lived her 'short' life. She has affected so many. A CTV followup about her funeral can be seen here: http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1021867 (you will need to copy and paste in your browser and wait for the ad to finish) and also ... her testimony given in April of this year at Eaglemont church can be found here .. http://eaglemontchurch.ca/sermons/2013/apr/07/personal-testimony/

I listened to the words of the song she wrote both from the funeral and on this site where she gave her testimony and these thoughts on her relationship with God stand out...

'come in empty - leave filled up'
'bring in sickness - leave healed'
'come in broken - He mends every piece'
'come in captive - leave free'

Of course her voice and music make it all sound so much better but the essence of her thoughts remain. Healing - not necessarily in the body - but she was ok with that - she is now totally healed - and singing with the angels, glorifying Him, which is exactly what she was doing here as well.

She quoted Isaiah 26:3,4 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal."

Today would have been my brother-in-law, John's 85th birthday. I would have already sent him a 'cute' card with an appropriate message and he would be thanking us for 'thinking of him'. Instead, we are simply remembering him in our hearts. No communication, only thoughts and prayers. We saw him at Christmas last year and although thin, he looked good. His spirits were good and he had mellowed. Age does that...so does illness to many people. Within a month, he had passed away from this world to glory. 

Nine months later, we were praying for his wife as she suffered a heart incident. Two times she ended up in the hospital, and although she has been discharged, she has slowed down and she too has mellowed. 

Time marches on. There is a saying that 'Time waits for no man', He catches each one of us. Some of us are prepared, others are not. Some are surprised, others have been waiting. To say that one should make the most of each day is an understatement. I think we all know that. We try to remember it and practice making the most of it but usually each day 'ticks by' without us recognizing its importance. 

I know some people who have been together for a long time but may now give up trying. I know some others who say that marriage requires constant work and when we lapse in our efforts to keep it working, we end up with more trouble. The daily grind...or the opportunity to make it better. It's all in our attitude.

I read an interesting quote the other day which I have now written out and will try to remember (daily)...
The essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less. Self-less. I wonder if I can do that better and in so doing, make life easier for me and all those around me. It's worth a try. 
(Reference: Tim Keller: The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness)