"Out of the fullness of His Grace, He has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another." John 1:16
I want to tell you a story today about a couple we know. They are friends from church. Some of you may know them, most of you will not.
He has cancer...terminal cancer...the doctors have given him a time limit to set his affairs in order...they can do nothing else for him...he is dying...Worse case scenario, right?
My story is about them...
Steve & I had lunch with them last Sunday & although we know them from church & knew a little about them, we really didn't know much about their lives or who they are.
I don't know exactly how old they are...I am guessing close to our ages ( Steve & I ) . They have grown children & grandchildren.
He was a Master Carpenter for many years...due to circumstances with his health & the direction that the business was taking, he made a decision to stop doing what he had done most of his life (and what he loved, I would assume)...and after that, had several other jobs, including assistant pastor at a church they were attending. It was while he was there, that his life took a different turn. Someone in his church, knew how much he loved children & suggested that he would make a good teacher...so he decided that that would be his career.
He went back to school - for SIX years - to get his teaching degree, all the while battling cancer & other health issues. He has only been teaching 4 years. Like I said, I don't know how old they are, but if I use my age as the timeline, that would mean that he made a life changing career choice, when he was around 52, maybe a little older, maybe a little younger... all the while fighting a disease that he had no control over ~ with tests, treatments, shots, etc, etc...that make you tired & sick & ready to give up everyday! Amazing!
I was actually in awe of this man & his ability to keep going & I ask him, as we sat at lunch, "How are you feeling now?". He said, "Pretty good right now - I'm just taking one day at a time."
None of us know how long we have left in this world...but we all have hope that it is a lot longer...He doesn't have many more days left, if he listens to the doctors opinions...but I have a feeling that he doesn't. :)
He knows that His Lord is in control & can cure him tomorrow or the "last day/last hour/last minute", if that is His will, but if it is not His will, then I think he is ready to go home.
That he lives his life to the best & the fullest every day, teaching "his kids" and loving the time he has left with them & with his family, those are the things I will remember from that lunch. It was a lesson for me.
I took two things away from the time spent with these two amazing friends. 1) No matter how bad we think our lives are - there is always someone who has more problems, more worries. 2) We are given a certain number of days...no one knows how many that is...if you squander them on unimportant things, your life will be over & you will not have lived - for yourself OR for the Lord.
This man, with all his health problems & battles with cancer, chose to take a different path & God has blessed him with kids that he is making an impact on every day, because of the way he lives his life.
I only hope that I can do as well.
"Follow me one step at a time. That is all I require of you. In fact, that is the only way to move through this space/time world. You see huge mountains looming and you start wondering how you are going to scale those heights. Meanwhile, because you're not looking where you're going, you stumble on the easy path where I am leading you now. As I help you get back on your feet, you tell me how worried you are about the cliffs up ahead. But you don't know what will happen today, much less tomorrow. Our path may take an abrupt turn, leading you away from those mountains. There may be an easier way up the mountains than is visible from this distance. If I do lead you up the cliffs, I will equip you thoroughly for that strenuous climb. I will even give My angels charge over you, to preserve you in all your ways.
Keep your mind on the present journey, enjoying My Presence. Walk by faith, not by sight, trusting Me to open up the way before you." ~ Jesus Calling (2/1/12)
"We learn to be victorious by surrendering our lives to God, not by grinding our teeth and trying harder." ~ Beth Moore
"Search for the Lord and for His strength and keep on searching." ~ Psalm 105:4
"That is why we live by believing and not by seeing." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7
"The Lord is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger - so why should I tremble?" ~ Psalm 27:1
Powerful post indeed, Cheryl. It can be sooo difficult to remain focused, but I guess it's really our only option.
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