This is a Friday, but not our usual Friday. Our usual is getting up, doing our quiet time, then breakfast, walking Marley, then getting on the computer to write on here. Somewhat in that order. Today was different.
I did get up and get my quiet time in, but then it was shower and dress to attend a memorial service. Not for anyone we were much acquainted with, but a dear friend whose aunt had passed away last week. It was an interesting service. I say that because I am Christian, and the service was in a Catholic church, as the deceased was Catholic. The priest who spoke was quite lively and did not speak in the monotone voice we hear so much about nowadays. At one point it seemed he was rambling on about politics - and I had to stifle a chuckle. Everyone wants to get their two cents in. No, he wasn't pushing any one in particular, just a comment about the world and how we need to turn back to God. It was an interesting service. The last Catholic funeral service I had attended was my father-in-law's back in 1985.
After attending the service and staying for the luncheon, we stopped by to visit two dear sisters whom we adopted as 'aunts' 30 years ago. They live in that area so we visited with them for about an hour. That was a good visit. Aunt Mae being 99 and Aunt Sue being 90, we probably won't have them around many more years. I treasure our visits.
And I would be amiss if I did not acknowledge what today is. Sure, it is only October 5, 2012. But on October 5, 2001, this date meant something.
On this date, eleven years ago, my daughter had a bone marrow transplant. I've mentioned before her journey with leukemia. How God healed her. It was on this date that she got the transplant. I remember the day well - not because I was there - but because I wasn't. I had planned to go to the University of Tucson Hospital in Tucson, Arizona to be with her when she got the transplant. But her doctor told me 'no'. Why? Because as a mother, it would be so hard for me to see what she was going to endure, in order to get well.
The eradicated every cell in her body, from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. I forget all the stages and steps, although I am sure she hasn't, that she had to go through before she got the bone marrow. I remember her saying that the inside of her mouth was one solid canker sore and all she could eat and keep down was mashed potatoes. We were able to go down to visit once she was past the sterile stage.
I think of the miracle of this date, the unrelated donor who unselfishly gave his bone marrow to someone he would never know nor meet. They could have, but he opted out. But to whomever it was, we will forever be grateful. It was on this date eleven years ago that Mary was able to say she was going to live.
I remember her saying at one point she was ready to give up. She couldn't endure the pain anymore and the fight to live was so hard. She said she heard Jesus say to her 'I'm walking with you through this, you will make it'. She felt His hand upon her shoulder and knew it was Jesus. She looked, and saw her deceased father sitting in a chair in the room with her. It was at that time, she said, that she knew she was going to live.
True, my memory of it all may not be quite accurate, but still, it is a good story to tell. It is a reminder that Jesus is always with us, no matter what the journey is.
He walked with Mary as she suffered through the chemotherapy and the treatments and infusions and all that she had. He gave her hope when she was ready to give up.
He walks with me as I journey looking for another job. Jesus walks with you as you struggle with health issues, employment issues, children / parent issues. No matter what the issue is, Jesus is strong enough to walk you through each and every problem.
At some point, life does end. Reminds me of another story. I'll save it for another day.
I'm grateful that I have Jesus to lean on. Some of the things I go through, and have gone through, I shudder to think what I could have been or done, had Jesus not intervened in my life and walked me through it. Yeah, I still occasionally make wrong choices, but He helps me even in those choices and shows me the way to go.
I think about life.... and I think about death. My time will come, I know not when. One thing I do know and that is that my time is in His hands. Today, I think I will just mellow out and let Him love me as I sit at His feet. I could use His reassuring hug.
Blessings!
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