My Mom has for several years written a monthly paper for her church. It's not a newsletter, but rather an uplifting paper geared toward the Seniors - those who are getting or have the gray hair and wisdom. =)She takes the paper to the church secretary to make copies, but there are also quite a few that get the Senior Paper by email, and Mom always includes a cover letter.
I wanted to share the cover letter from this month's issue:
January 20, 2011
Hi everyone,
Did you get much snow where you live the last few weeks? We did here and I enjoyed it a lot -- since I didn't have to get out in it. But it was also good to see the sun shine again. I do appreciate all those brave people who go out in extreme weather to serve us, helping us to stay safe and warm and making life better for us.
I enjoy watching the seasons come and go, knowing that only a wonderful Creator could make such beautiful things for us to enjoy, like the blazing colorful leaves in the autumn and the snow in the winter.
Our lives have seasons, too. Our springtime of youth, the summer of young adulthood, the autumn of middle age, and the winter of old age. Some of us are now in our winter season, but spring will come again one day, bringing newness of life for those who know the Creator of Life and the Author of Resurrection.
I hope you are enjoying the seasons of your own life, and I hope you enjoy this month’s senior paper as well.
Health Update:
First of all, though I am having to rest more along and take more pain medicine now, I'm actually still doing pretty good most of the time and I am very thankful for that.
Second, in my last update, I told you that my cancer has started growing again. I didn’t write everything in that update but that was the gist of it. The only other thing was that the doctor has given me a timeline now, a rough guess as to how long I have left. I had just found that out and hadn’t discussed it yet with my family so I didn’t tell you then. Since family and close friends now know, I will go ahead and write it here.
The doctor said that her “best guesstimate” for me is from six months to a year. She said she felt it would lean more toward a year than six months, given my circumstances and present health in other areas. However, only God knows that for sure. And only He can call me Home, and that will only be when He is ready to do so. It is in His hands and that is where it rightly should be.
On a more practical "here and now" aspect, I was enrolled with Hospice in December. A nurse comes out every week to check me and assess my needs at that time. Others come by every several days from Hospice, and service people come in to bring supplies. I am getting so much attention now that some days I'm worn plumb out from all the attention!
Seriously, I am thankful for this organization. I never knew before how many good benefits are available to Hospice patients, many of them free, after Medicare or other insurance pays their part. And no one is turned away, regardless of ability to pay, whether you have insurance or not. Much of the equipment and many supplies are free to the patient and are delivered right to the home.
[omitted paragraph about different Hospice services]
Living in America with Hospice available and a Hospice home just a mile or so away from my home is a big comfort and I’m very thankful I live in the age I do.
And having the Lord by my side every second is the most wonderful comfort imaginable. I don’t even have to call him as I would for Hospice. “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24 There are times when one doesn’t even know WHAT to pray for.
Surprise! God “has an app for that, too.” It’s Romans 8:26-27: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
Surprise! God “has an app for that, too.” It’s Romans 8:26-27: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
And here’s a secret for those that glibly quote Romans 8:28 and say that “all things work together for good.” Well…it doesn’t exactly say that, now does it? Most of you dear friends know what I am getting at here, but for those who don’t, let’s make it a mystery game and you go read it in context. And don’t forget to read “the rest of the story” in the verses that follow. All of Romans 8:28-39, if you please.
In reality, you are in the dying process just as much as I am. For that matter, you may go long before I do, so let's keep in mind that God gives us all every breath we take. Let's make every day count as much as in our power to do so. Today could be the last day we have to talk to a loved one. Or to even pray for one we love that doesn't know Christ. Or to just tell the Lord we love him and whatever is his will for us is our will, too. Believe me, being in the center of his will is the most safe, wonderful, peaceful, and fulfilling place there is!
Time is precious. Use it wisely. When you think of it, every day we live for ourselves more than for our Saviour is, in a way, wasted. Consider the poem below. It was in my files and I don’t even remember where I got it. There was no copyright with it, so I assume it is meant to be enjoyed by all.
Until next time,
My love and prayers to all,
Louise
I LOOKED
I Looked upon a farm one day,
That once I use to own;
The barn had fallen to the ground,
The fields were overgrown.
The house in which my children grew,
Where we had lived for years -
I turned to see it broken down,
And brushed aside the tears.
I looked upon my soul one day,
To find it too had grown
With thorns and nettles everywhere,
The seeds neglect had sown.
The years had passed while I had cared
For things of lesser worth:
The things of Heaven I let go
While minding things of earth.
To Christ I turned with bitter tears,
And cried, "O Lord, forgive!
I haven't much time left for Thee,
Not many years to live."
The wasted years forever gone,
The days I can't recall;
If I could live those days again,
I'd make Him Lord of all.
~ Theodore W. Brennan
I think my Mom and Dad♥ are pretty special!!!
