We're home! After spending 3 months in the Sunshine state we're back home. Danny and I managed to escape the Cold weather, but not our health Issues. Our maladies tagged along. Danny's high blood pressure landed Him in the hospital for 2 nights. I was treated for a UTI, and my Hip bursitis flared up. For weeks I could barely walk. And yet, the view from our little Lanai was lovely. We enjoyed our critters, tiny ones, Feathered ones, twelve foot long ones. (We named our alligator "Albert.") God found us a small church where we Met friends and where our pastor Preached powerful sermons. We cruised around Naples, amazed at The mansions, but so thankful they Weren't ours to care for. We dined on several waterfronts. And we decided that just about every Oldster in the USA and beyond descends On Marco Island during the winter Months. We learned what it means to be "In season." We also discovered that God had lined Up divine appointments for us, Delightful ones. In retrospect, despite our health woes, Our stay in Florida was worthwhile. Indeed, if one must ail, why not Suffer where it's warm? (Nevertheless, I am so so thankful to Be home.) |
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As Danny and his daughter were
Chatting on the phone reminiscing, She told him, "One of the greatest lessons I Learned from you and Mom was how to Face adversity. Our family endured lots of Hard experiences, but you both taught us to Pray and trust God to get us through them, And He did." Her words were encouraging. We try so hard to shield our kids from Trials, and yet it is facing them with Courage and faith that prepares our Children for the harsh realities of Life. Hardship is inevitable. To persevere with hope is a Powerful example we can leave our Kids, a legacy that will never Depreciate, a legacy that will last. Waiting for Danny to have his monthly
Infusion, I discovered a small cafe just down The street. I ordered a cup of coffee, half decaf, and instead Of a sausage biscuit, I settled on a cup of fresh Fruit. As I sat at a table I pulled out my Bible to Make good use of my time. A friendly lady walked by. She worked in the building. I noticed the silver cross around her Neck and her name tag: Marti. And she noticed me. "Are you reading your Bible?" she asked. "Yes." "I love to see people studying the Bible." We bonded immediately. We were spiritual sisters. We shared warm conversation and I Shared a tract and my grief booklet. Since she works with cancer patients, Perhaps the booklet will be useful. I learned that each day my new Friend prays for a divine appointment just Like I do. Marti and I parted with a hug. We concurred that today we were the Answer to each other's prayer. The pastor didn't know whether he could
Manage the service. It was a funeral service. It was for my niece, Miranda, his wife. She was well acquainted with Suffering, but to the very end she Embraced God's promises. She clung to Isaiah 43:2 and shared it With her family: "When you pass through the Waters I will be with you and through the Rivers they shall not overwhelm you; when You walk through the fire you shall not be Burned, and the flame shall not consume you." (Beside the passage in my Bible I wrote, "Miranda's verse.") Her husband WAS able to conduct the service. Wilson spoke comfort to us through his Sorrow. "We must expect suffering," he said. "It is Inevitable. And we must allow ourselves to Grieve to the fullest extent, but not without Hope. We must rub God's hope into our Grief. Rub it deep deep down till it permeates Our pain. And we will be wiser for it." The pastor added, "I didn't plan to share this, But I have 3 tumors on my spine. I can learn From Miranda how to suffer well." I pray that God will spare Wilson for his Three daughters. I couldn't attend the funeral in person, but I watched it online. My soul was stirred. I grieve with my loved ones. I pray they will be able to rub hope's Salve deep, deep, deep into their Hurting hearts, and discover in the Process that they are wiser for it. Danny and I are memorizing the passage.
It takes extra time at our age. But when Danny's blood pressure shoots up, Or my bursitis plagues me, we face each Other and repeat the words together: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though Outwardly we are wasting away, yet Inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are Achieving for us an eternal glory that far Outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not On what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what Is unseen is eternal." * Our troubles may not seem light and Momentary now, but heavy and Unrelenting. But in light of eternity our ailments are A mere breath. It's why Danny and I practice the paradox. We focus on the hope of heaven, On a Father who hears us, holds us, Knows us. We fix our eyes on spiritual realities, Things we can't see with our eyes, but With our hearts. *II Corinthians 4:16-18
Within just three weeks my friend
Learned that she not only had Cancer, but that it had metastasized. When fluid was removed from Her lung cavity, it simply filled up Again. "You're between a rock and a hard Place," the doctor told her. The specialist pictured my friend as Being trapped on all sides by her Circumstances. But the psalmist, David, had a Different perspective. "The Lord is my rock," he said, "My fortress in whom I take refuge." * It is true for my sweet sister. Hospice is assisting her now, and she Told me, "I'm at peace. I'm in the Lord's hands." My friend kindly inquired about my Own well being. Jean isn't trapped. She's sheltered, safe, protected by Her Rock who is steadfast, and Totally trustworthy. And gratefully, He's my Rock too. *Psalm 18:2 The old gospel song came to mind during my
Quiet time. We often sang it in our small country church, the Brick building now gone, but in my mind it Lives on. "Take your burden to the Lord and Leave it there." The farm folk in our congregation certainly Carried lots of burdens, weather woes, pest foes, Power outages during milking time, sick animals, Injuries, family upheaval. We still are burdened down with burdens, Perhaps different in nature, but many Similar. This morning as I was praying earnestly for A loved one in distress, the old hymn came to Mind. But the lyrics aren't simple ones to Live out. I easily take my burden to the Lord, but The hard part is leaving it there. A new dress.
A new car. A new carpet. There's something special about Being new. I take better care of my purchase, watching For every stain, or scratch. But before long, wear begins to Show. The newness erodes along with my Vigilance. I resign myself to a traffic pattern on My floor, spaghetti sauce on my Dress, and a dent in my car door. Like everything I own, my new has Become old. Perhaps that's why I so dearly treasure God's gifts. His mercies and compassion are Old and familiar, but yet, continually New. And just like God's people couldn't Store up manna in the wilderness, I can't stockpile my Father's Compassion. Each morning when I open my Eyes, I discover a fresh supply, New hope. New courage. New peace, just enough Strength to face this day. My Father's faithfulness is Great, indeed, beyond great, And unlike my carpet, it Never loses its luster. It never wears out. "It is because of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22 I saw the long wooden sign in the
Gift shop: "Happiness Is a Choice." I picked it up, pondered for Awhile and wondered. Can I really choose happiness? I can choose to do happy things, Walk in the park with Danny, Sip coffee from my winter mug while I watch the snow flakes blanket the Ground, Play dominoes with my grandkids. My happy list is endless. But I can't drum up happiness. If my heart is aching, the emotion Isn't there. Feelings come and go without Warning. If I had written the sign it would Say, "Rejoicing Is a Choice." For even in the depths of Grief I can choose to rejoice in My Father's mercy, In His comfort, In His strong sheltering arm. And In the act of rejoicing the Happiness may just sneak up and Surprise me. "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Habakkuk 3:17-18 |
Dorothy Kalb Hsu Seitzinger
Writing poetry has helped me process and express my sorrows and joys, my concerns and blessings. "Life is hard, but God is good!" Archives
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