September Blog - Women's Ministry
Do you Remember?
The last couple times we met here, I have talked to you about my hubby’s job loss/layoff and closure of the company he worked for May 1, 2024. Then in August I talked about my mom’s home going to be with Jesus. What follows is the next and final layer of this story. I invite you to sit in your comfortable chair and sip your favorite drink.
My mom had passed sweetly and quietly on a sunny afternoon. I wasn’t there, but my sister was. She went to see Jesus, which set in motion many things. One of which was that we had to finalize her earthly story, those details and services. My sibs, dad, and I met at the offices of the funeral home my parents had chosen years prior and set in place the wants and desires of my dad, myself and my siblings on behalf of my mom.
Once decisions had been made, the room was quiet and empty except for family. In that moment, and to our surprise, my dad announced that he wanted to move to the apartments in their retirement village and sell his house. We were stunned, in a good way. He remarked further it was too much house for him, he sat there all by himself. He wanted something smaller and wanted people around. My sibs and I looked at one another quickly and in that second, we all agreed with my dad. Then talked about it then and there. My sibs and I had been waiting for this stirring of need for a couple of years and were so thankful it had come. Though I will tell you straight up, we had no idea how much work and time that was going to take.
When you open the door of someone else’s life, where they have lived for decades, there is a distinct feeling of care, respect, humility and yet one of wonder, too. In the hours of sorting, cleaning, removing, deciding, donation drop off, understanding each other’s desires for special pieces, reminiscing, there in the same warmth, were also sweet moments of seeing pictures, remembering times spent together, and at times, a few surprises. I’m sure every family finds these as they process though the home of their loved ones. Letters from long ago, cards that were special, pictures painted or drawn, poetry written, sentiments of life, of love, of history, and each delicate piece cherished. There were pictures of people, places, and times that were dear to my mom and dad.
Some of these stop you in your tracks, some are sweet reminders of a special time when they met, dated, were married, or we spent with family, and some honestly, we had no clue. But every piece, every tucked away paper, carried memories of scrapbook history – decades gone by. Back to the 1800’s in some cases. Family history I never knew. Artwork we had never seen tucked away – my mom’s passion for art in full view. I don’t know how many times we would say, “Do you remember …” and show a picture or an item we had discovered in the treasures that were their life together. Sometimes it hurts to process these, to know they were each special and meaningful to their lives.
Six weeks of going to their home when we could. My hubby, daughter, grandkids and myself doing most of the discovery, sifting, organizing, clearing out, and getting ready to sell his house. My brother and sister helped on a couple of occasions, too.
We hired the carpets cleaned, an overall cleaning and the move of their grandfather clock to my dad’s new apartment. My dad did not want much, so we moved the items he was most fond of to his new “home” so that he could enjoy those special pieces. Many items were simply needed, but he was very careful to take many framed pictures of his bride. He now is in a home in his apartment with other folks next door and down each hall. He is happy with it’s a small-town atmosphere and generous smiles. There he lives, dines, can go to entertainment events, get rides to shops or go on a local excursion, but most of all he has friends to chat with.
His house did sell, and we closed on it earlier this month. AMEN!
In the midst of this, my hubby got a job offer, praise the Lord, and began the long paperwork trail of onboarding. This took about 2.5 months. He has now been working for a little over three weeks. Amen, ladies!
We have looked back over our last few months and count each of these as a blessing. The difficult, the loss of life, the hard work, and the harder process. You may ask how or why these could be seen as a blessing. This is what I want to share with you - the reason for all of this over the last three blogs. While my family is in this story, feeling deeply all that has gone on, what I want you to hear is this: this story is not about my family, IT IS about God. How He made provision where we thought there wasn’t, how He was faithful when we were struggling; How His plan prevailed, provided and comforted us all along the way.
Here is what that looked like then and now:
- Brian’s job loss was a provision, so that he was available to help with all, and I mean all, my family’s needs over a four-month timespan
- My daughter, son-in-law and our grandkids arrived the end of May, which means, a military family who has been stationed many places, but never close to Monument, Colorado; they were here to see their Granny before she went to be with Jesus. They were able to have conversations with her, hear her laugh and hold her hand.
- My daughter got to witness God’s kindness as my mom saw/spoke with family who had already passed as she was in her declining days. That’s a gift, and God-given “I love you” from Him to us.
- God welcomed my momma home and renewed her, made her whole again.
- We were able to work together on service preparations, flower arranging, cookies provided by some of you, funeral bulletin and obituary writing.
- We were able to work together to get my dad’s home ready for sell.
- Because we were together, we were able to cry, laugh and process together.
Ladies, God brought us together, my immediate family, living in the same house, under His care for such a time. We spend 11 weeks together – He GAVE us that. When does it happen, other than by His divine provision, sight, love and care for us? He welcomed my momma home; how can I be upset about her relief of pain and being in eternity with Him? I miss her, yes, but I’m delighted at the same time that she is home.
- He provided employment for my hubby. And not just any job, but one that matched is resume; not just a little, or mostly, but line for line, every detail. He is God, the God who sees! AMEN, ladies?!
This story is about God, who He is, what He does, how He provides, comforts, loves us individually in our need. When I remember all God has done just in the last five months on my family’s behalf; the things I feel are; complete awe, a heart that is full, astounded at His detail, feeling loved and cared for abundantly, seen, understood, perused by His loving arms, treasured and given time to see Him at work. Yes, with precious breath in and out, cycling through the days God let us see His work. This, friends, is a story of blessing.
Can you look back? Do you remember a time when God let you watch His work?
Final thoughts … aligning who God is … How He loves … hugs … reminds …
- Hubby’s job loss … God provides
- Mom’s illness … God’s plan
- She’s now home with Jesus … God delight to welcome her arrival home
- Dad … God’s movement and care
- New job for hubby started … God’s detailed attention
- Looking back … God’s sovereignty over all creation
God, the I AM, abiding in all the details daily.
He invites us in.
He desires relationship.
He sent His Son to bring us hope and a future.
And ladies, this story is all about the hope we have in Jesus.
It stops me, gives me a heart of worship, humbles me, and causes me to deeply adore who He is and how abundantly He cares.
- Traci Hollingsworth