Do you have any furniture that reminds you of your childhood? Are there pieces with stories attached? Well my family now has a piece of my childhood in the house -- actually a couple of pieces. Since we are the only ones with room to spare we inherited a dining room table, 8 chairs and a hutch that were made for my family of 7 about 30 years ago. There are so many things that happened around that table. We also now have my bedroom set from high school. I remember when my parents bought it -- they were quick to let me know it would become their guest room bedroom set after I moved out.
What about dishes? We inherited the family china and silverware -- boy if they could talk. I saw a picture from the fifties and that china was on the table. It has lasted over 50 years and was used often.
The other night I asked God to help me be a good steward of my belongings - the stuff he has enabled my family to acquire. Now I want to make sure I document the history in our belongings -- I want my kids to know the stories involved with the things my husband brought home from Texas. These were their grandparents and great grandparents possessions that were taken care of so well that they still have stories to tell.
Now I need to ask God to help me be the storyteller for the next generation.
Showing posts with label my dad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label my dad. Show all posts
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
hope
My father's viewing was last night and the funeral service is this morning. I have had the wonderful opportunity to see how Jesus has made a difference in my life, my husband's life and my 2 children's lives just by watching how each one handled and responded to the viewing.
My 5 year old daughter with a huge heart was amazing - she comforted her 10 year old cousin who was crying and crying, she used her words to tell her how it was ok to cry and be sad, she looked right into the casket and said "it does not look like grampy anymore because all the stuff we know about him is in heaven" she handled it with so much grace and compassion - and I believe the reason it was not scary is two fold -- she knows Jesus and is learning what the bible says about death and heaven and she has never ever seen anything creepy or horror-filled like some of the things in the movies I used to watch or related to halloween. She viewed it as a natural thing.
My 7 year old son wrote a note to his cousin letting her know that he hoped she felt better. He also said "it is not really like grampy is dead he is alive in heaven forever." He is the black and white practical one! However in the car on the way to the hotel he had his arm around me rubbing the back of my neck. :)
My husband sat with my grieving brother who had been my dad's roommate and caretaker over the last seven years. He listened and supported. He was Jesus in the flesh for my brother - he showed love and compassion and understanding in a way only he could. My husband lost his dad a long time ago and also spent time being his caretaker. My husband's experience was necessary for "such a time as this". He loved by listening! My brother is learning that my family's love for him is unconditional -- I am learning how to love unconditionally.
I truly truly believe that I can love someone to Jesus - I used to think I needed to confront them to Jesus - help them see their sin. You know what? Once people know that I love them unconditionally and Jesus loves them regardless of their sin then they can begin a relationship with him and the Holy Spirit can do the transformation work -- not me!
I can only say that I am thankful to my church for helping me grow to this point over the last year. I am amazed at my heart change and how it has had a huge impact on my relationships! I have grown so much closer to Jesus and know that this is only the beginning!
My 5 year old daughter with a huge heart was amazing - she comforted her 10 year old cousin who was crying and crying, she used her words to tell her how it was ok to cry and be sad, she looked right into the casket and said "it does not look like grampy anymore because all the stuff we know about him is in heaven" she handled it with so much grace and compassion - and I believe the reason it was not scary is two fold -- she knows Jesus and is learning what the bible says about death and heaven and she has never ever seen anything creepy or horror-filled like some of the things in the movies I used to watch or related to halloween. She viewed it as a natural thing.
My 7 year old son wrote a note to his cousin letting her know that he hoped she felt better. He also said "it is not really like grampy is dead he is alive in heaven forever." He is the black and white practical one! However in the car on the way to the hotel he had his arm around me rubbing the back of my neck. :)
My husband sat with my grieving brother who had been my dad's roommate and caretaker over the last seven years. He listened and supported. He was Jesus in the flesh for my brother - he showed love and compassion and understanding in a way only he could. My husband lost his dad a long time ago and also spent time being his caretaker. My husband's experience was necessary for "such a time as this". He loved by listening! My brother is learning that my family's love for him is unconditional -- I am learning how to love unconditionally.
I truly truly believe that I can love someone to Jesus - I used to think I needed to confront them to Jesus - help them see their sin. You know what? Once people know that I love them unconditionally and Jesus loves them regardless of their sin then they can begin a relationship with him and the Holy Spirit can do the transformation work -- not me!
I can only say that I am thankful to my church for helping me grow to this point over the last year. I am amazed at my heart change and how it has had a huge impact on my relationships! I have grown so much closer to Jesus and know that this is only the beginning!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
life
Have you ever wondered what the number of your days is? I just have always assumed I would be around until I was old and grey. Then about 7 years ago my mom passed away suddenly. I had a 6 month old baby and really struggled with the realization that either he was going to experience what I was currently -- going through the pain of losing his mom -- or I was going to go through the pain of losing him. Yuck -- what awful thoughts to have running through your head.
They went away with time and come back now and then. Now I am faced with losing my dad -- the only way I can explain it is that I feel like I am floating -- I will have lost the generation above me -- I will lose the strength in our family - the person that ties us together -- we still vacation as a family once a year because of him -- not because we are all best friends. We remain civil with one another because of him. All I can say is that in the end I want to remember that I honored and respected him. That is what the bible commands me to do and that has been my focus for these past few weeks -- with every conversation I have with him or one of my sisters or brother.
It is easy to wonder whether it is or was my job to teach my dad about Jesus. While down in Texas over the weekend I had the privilege of sitting with my dad and saying goodbye. He shared numerous things at that time and one was -- "you and Don have tried to live a good christian life and I admire you for that" I think my dad has learned a lot about Jesus from watching my family and for that I am truly thankful.
My prayer is that I will not judge a person's life by what I see or don't see or by what I hear or don't hear -- I will love them and trust that God is working on their heart - a huge responsibility that I can not bear alone.
They went away with time and come back now and then. Now I am faced with losing my dad -- the only way I can explain it is that I feel like I am floating -- I will have lost the generation above me -- I will lose the strength in our family - the person that ties us together -- we still vacation as a family once a year because of him -- not because we are all best friends. We remain civil with one another because of him. All I can say is that in the end I want to remember that I honored and respected him. That is what the bible commands me to do and that has been my focus for these past few weeks -- with every conversation I have with him or one of my sisters or brother.
It is easy to wonder whether it is or was my job to teach my dad about Jesus. While down in Texas over the weekend I had the privilege of sitting with my dad and saying goodbye. He shared numerous things at that time and one was -- "you and Don have tried to live a good christian life and I admire you for that" I think my dad has learned a lot about Jesus from watching my family and for that I am truly thankful.
My prayer is that I will not judge a person's life by what I see or don't see or by what I hear or don't hear -- I will love them and trust that God is working on their heart - a huge responsibility that I can not bear alone.
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