Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thanksgiving
Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good!!
Dad, I have been missing you...
As we all prepare our Thanksgiving celebrations this year, may the Lord find a way into your hearts and home. It's hard sometimes as some of us may be experiencing some sort of struggle and find it difficult to be thankful under the strains of life, but let me encourage you to seek God for a grateful heart.
Yes, I still struggle with losing my dad to cancer and miss him everyday. I think about my cousin Kat who is spending her first Thanksgiving since her mom passed away. I think about my family back in Illinois who have suffered a recent death, one of my cousins who was only 30 years old. I miss my mom, but am grateful for the relationship we share from hundreds of miles away. We think of Ray's son that he hasn't seen or spoken with for years. But I love the Lord and know that He takes care of me and my family and has blessed me a thousand times over.
Proverbs 15:15 says that a cheerful heart is a "continual feast." My dad always had a cheerful heart and that's because he bowed to his Lord in thankfulness, his cheer came from having a grateful heart. I try to remember that everyday, but especially this Thanksgiving. Life pushes us down sometimes. We must remember Proverbs 15:13 that says, heartache crushes the spirit." We don't have to feel guilty if we don't always have a cheerful heart, but we do need to take our cares to the Lord.
(The bottom half of this blog is taken from a writing on christiananswers.net)
Problems will come your way. God will see to it personally that you grow as a Christian. He will allow the storms, to send your roots deep into the soil of His Word. We pray more in the midst of problems, but it's been well said that you will see more from your knees, than you will on your tip toes.
A man once watched a butterfly struggling to get out of its cocoon. In an effort to help it, he took a razor blade, and carefully slit the edge of the cocoon. The butterfly escaped form its problem ... and immediately died.
It is God's way to have the butterfly struggle. It is the struggle that causes its tiny heart to beat fast, and send the life's blood into its wings.
Trials have their purpose. They make us struggle — they bring us to our knees. They are the cocoon in which we often find ourselves. It is there that the life's blood of faith in God helps us spread our wings.
Faith and thanksgiving are close friends. If you have faith in God, you will be thankful because you know His loving hand is upon you, even though you are in a lion's den. That will give you a deep sense of joy, and joy is the barometer of the depth of faith you have in God. Let me give you an example.
Imagine if I said I would give you one million dollars if you ripped out the last page of today's newspaper, and mailed it to me. Of course, you don't believe that I would do that. But imagine if you did. Imagine if you had knowledge of more than 1,000 people who had sent in the page, and every one received their million dollars — no strings attached. More than that. You had actually called me, and I had assured you personally that I would keep my word. If you believed me, wouldn't you have joy? If you didn't believe me — no joy.
The amount of joy you have would be a barometer as to how much you believed my promise.
We have so much to be thankful for. God has given us "exceeding great and precious promises" that are "more to be desired than gold." Do yourself a big favor — believe those promises, thank God continually for them, and "let your joy be full."
An old farmer once had an ungodly relative visit him. After the farmer had bowed his head and thanked God for the food they were about to eat, the relative rudely said, "What did you do that for? There's no God. We live in an age of enlightenment." The old farmer smiled and said, "There is one on the farm who doesn't thank God before he eats." The relative sat up and said, "Who is this enlightened one?" To which the farmer quietly replied, "My pig."
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
What Was Left Behind
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
What Was Left Behind
We have been asked to present some writings in our grief support group and the latest entry required us to write about the things that our deceased loved ones left behind. These could be clothing, photos, mementos, etc. Donna asked us to include what the items were and how they made us feel... a sense of comfort, wave of negative emotions, smiles, what emotions were brought about.
Entry:
What was left behind becomes a part of the legacy dad has given me.
I have many things from my dad that I hold dear. Some of them make me laugh and some make me cry. Either way I cherish each memory and hold them close to my heart because they are the lasting parts of the relationship that I had with my dad. I saved many notes and cards that my dad wrote to me over the years. The messages from dad are both heartwarming and heart wrenching, but I cherish these mementos because they remind me of how blessed I was to be so close with my father. All in his own handwriting, my dad shared his love, words of encouragement, advice, bible verses, and sometimes a silly message just to make me smile. He could never have known how much his written words mean to me now.
Then there are the photographs, memories frozen in time depicting moments where we laughed, loved, worked and played. I am grateful to have so many photographs of my father because they definitely bring me comfort and there are many that make me smile. At this moment, any photograph with my dad in it brings tears because my heart longs to have him here. There is still the ache of wanting to hold his hand in mine, share a hug or hear his voice. A part of me still expects the routine morning phone call from my dad just to check in.
Some particular items of my dad's that I chose to keep were an angel coin given to him by a cancer nurse, a favorite "U.S. Open" golfing cap, a yellow button down cardigan, and a pen that I had given him as a gift. I suppose these items are special to me because they are tangible and somehow make me feel nearer to him. These things are here even though dad is gone and they do bring a sense of comfort to my broken heart. I can wear the cap and sweater, hold the coin and use the pen. I still picture dad sitting at the kitchen table in his home writing bills, envision him on that golf course wearing the cap, remember him wearing the sweater to his youngest grandson's baptism, and recall the day I took him to the cancer center for his first chemo treatment. All these things remind me that he was real and he was here. What was left behind remains a part of my dad and now a part of me…
What Was Left Behind
We have been asked to present some writings in our grief support group and the latest entry required us to write about the things that our deceased loved ones left behind. These could be clothing, photos, mementos, etc. Donna asked us to include what the items were and how they made us feel... a sense of comfort, wave of negative emotions, smiles, what emotions were brought about.
Entry:
What was left behind becomes a part of the legacy dad has given me.
I have many things from my dad that I hold dear. Some of them make me laugh and some make me cry. Either way I cherish each memory and hold them close to my heart because they are the lasting parts of the relationship that I had with my dad. I saved many notes and cards that my dad wrote to me over the years. The messages from dad are both heartwarming and heart wrenching, but I cherish these mementos because they remind me of how blessed I was to be so close with my father. All in his own handwriting, my dad shared his love, words of encouragement, advice, bible verses, and sometimes a silly message just to make me smile. He could never have known how much his written words mean to me now.
Then there are the photographs, memories frozen in time depicting moments where we laughed, loved, worked and played. I am grateful to have so many photographs of my father because they definitely bring me comfort and there are many that make me smile. At this moment, any photograph with my dad in it brings tears because my heart longs to have him here. There is still the ache of wanting to hold his hand in mine, share a hug or hear his voice. A part of me still expects the routine morning phone call from my dad just to check in.
Some particular items of my dad's that I chose to keep were an angel coin given to him by a cancer nurse, a favorite "U.S. Open" golfing cap, a yellow button down cardigan, and a pen that I had given him as a gift. I suppose these items are special to me because they are tangible and somehow make me feel nearer to him. These things are here even though dad is gone and they do bring a sense of comfort to my broken heart. I can wear the cap and sweater, hold the coin and use the pen. I still picture dad sitting at the kitchen table in his home writing bills, envision him on that golf course wearing the cap, remember him wearing the sweater to his youngest grandson's baptism, and recall the day I took him to the cancer center for his first chemo treatment. All these things remind me that he was real and he was here. What was left behind remains a part of my dad and now a part of me…
Saturday, July 14, 2007
I love you, Daddy-O
One year has passed and to this day, I miss you more than words can say... I miss your love, your smile, your cheer... When I miss you most, I feel you near... God in his love for me has shown, His wisdom in taking you to his home... And so dear one, I want you to know... That to this day I miss you so.
Dad passed away this time last year July 14, 2006. I knew my dad for 35 years and will cherish all the time that I had him here. He was the most amazing father a daughter could ever ask for. There was nothing my daddy wouldn't do for me and he always tried everything in his power to keep a smile on my face. He certainly knew how to make me laugh
My dad was such a beautiful man with a giving heart and gentle soul. He always seemed to have the right words for me when I would seek his advice. Knowing I could go to my dad always reminded me that I had a safe place and a hug would be waiting. It is difficult sometimes thinking that I will never be able to feel his arms around me, hear his voice or see that shine in his eyes that always made me feel so safe, warm and happy.
I will never be too old to be considered daddy's little girl. I looked up to him in so many ways and I still do. He touched so many people during his life on this earth and I am sure that he is having that same effect in heaven.
Always in my heart…
I love you, Daddy-O
Dad passed away this time last year July 14, 2006. I knew my dad for 35 years and will cherish all the time that I had him here. He was the most amazing father a daughter could ever ask for. There was nothing my daddy wouldn't do for me and he always tried everything in his power to keep a smile on my face. He certainly knew how to make me laugh
My dad was such a beautiful man with a giving heart and gentle soul. He always seemed to have the right words for me when I would seek his advice. Knowing I could go to my dad always reminded me that I had a safe place and a hug would be waiting. It is difficult sometimes thinking that I will never be able to feel his arms around me, hear his voice or see that shine in his eyes that always made me feel so safe, warm and happy.
I will never be too old to be considered daddy's little girl. I looked up to him in so many ways and I still do. He touched so many people during his life on this earth and I am sure that he is having that same effect in heaven.
Always in my heart…
I love you, Daddy-O
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
