Growing Kids - Not Grass

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

I mean that!  I DO hope you have a happy new year and that you experience the blessings of the Lord throughout the year!

 

It has been a while since I last posted. As all of you, I have had a hectic and crazy holiday and just had not extra time to write. Today's blog will be a little different than the others, as my family has walked through an experience over the holidays that has rocked our world.

 

We have some very close friends, whom we have known since the 1970's. One of their daughters, who spent a great deal of time in our home during her middle school and high school years and was a close friend of our daughter, has been battling cancer for the last 7 years. She would conquer one attack and enjoy a season of wellness, when another type would attack her body. Throughout the entire 7 years, this precious woman never waivered in her trust and faith in Christ and believed that she would beat the disease. We all did. God did heal her totally, just not on this side of heaven. Three days before Christmas she became very weakened and ill and had to be admitted to the hospital. After tests were conducted, the family was told that the cancer had once again attacked her body and the outcome didn't look good. This amazing family kept their eyes on Jesus and determined to help her come back to health. But on Friday, December 28, 2012, she was carried in the arms of Jesus to her ultimate healing in heaven.

 

My intention in writing this is not to bring you down, but to exalt what a mighty God we serve and tell you with Him, we can walk through anything as parents and have peace, faith, and trust through the storm. Never in my life have I witnessed a family so full of faith and trust. Of course, they are heartbroken at the loss of their precious, just barely 40 year old daughter who was a wonderful wife and a mother to 3 amazing Godly children. Of course they cry and grieve. Of course they want it to be otherwise. But they exhibit such steadfast faith in God, saying, "Not our will, but Yours," and meaning it. We have experienced in this man and woman what it means to have your heart ripped out as a parent and still hold on to the hand of the only One who can help them survive their loss, Almighty God, never waivering in their trust in Him. They truly mourn the loss of their daughter, but celebrate her life on earth and her life in heaven, as she praises and worships the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

 

As  parents, this beautiful woman and her strong, Godly husband, lived their lives before their kids in such a way as to instill in them that same strong faith. Their marriage exhibited two people who love the Lord and each other with all their hearts, and a commitment to one another, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Their example of love and commitment to God pointed their children to Him and these 3 people are strong young men and a young woman who love Him with their whole hearts. Her husband and children honor her in their faithfulness to the Lord. No wife or parent could ask for more.

 

I say, "Thank you" to this incredible family, who have shown through their faith and trust in God, that His comfort and peace are real. He IS who He says He is, and He is with us in the storms, no matter how horrific they are, and He carries us through by His grace and mercy. It is real. He is real. He is Lord of all. So, my dear sisters, I pray this encourages you to hold your families close and love them, through the good times and bad, and above all, to draw closer to our Lord and Savior than ever before. He will never leave or forsake us. NEVER.