This blog site has never belonged to me. It wasn’t my idea, but came into existence early last summer through my daughter Linnea’s urging. I believe her idea was prompted by God, since he was looking into our future and saw Nate’s cancer. He knew we’d need a way to communicate with people who wanted daily updates on his health. Beyond that, the Lord saw the help it could be to readers (including me) who were struggling to get through other things.
www.GettingThroughThis.com has been a joint effort all along, first with Linnea, then her husband who set it up, followed by the Lord’s prompting of what to write each night. Others have contributed words and ideas, and you, the readers, have poured forth encouragement with your comments.
Today I gave some thought to the strong connection I feel with each reader. You and I, we are a blog-family, tied together in cyberspace by tentative words on a pretend page, all of which could disappear with one “delete” click. Without knowing many of you personally, I still feel an attachment. I believe this is partly because I’ve been praying for you from the beginning.
God has encouraged me to bring “the readers” to him every single day, praying different requests at different times. Although I can’t list all of your names, he knows every one of you intimately and makes my generalized prayers specific, according to what he knows each of you needs. And when one of you writes, “This post did something for me today,” I thank God for answered prayer.
When I read the comments left at the end of each post, it thrills me to see some of you interacting with each other, developing new cyberspace relationships separate from the one with me. I feel like a mother hen watching over her chicks, glad to see them getting along so well. We are an extended blog-family, not by blood but by adoption, not because we have to but because we want to.
The Lord sees far down our life pathways, knowing which of us is about to enter a season of sickness, death, unemployment, financial shortfalls or other stresses. Even while we’re reading the blog, he could be using it to prepare us for what’s just around the next corner. He knows exactly what’s about to crash into our lives.
Writing these words each night is a joy for me. As I listen throughout the day to hear what God will prompt me to write, I sometimes feel nervous, wondering as the hours pass what the subject will be. As evening approaches, if nothing has yet come to mind, I come to the edge of panic and must firmly remind myself its God’s blog, not mine. He’ll bring the words when the moment comes, just like he sent daily manna to the children of Israel in the wilderness. There was nothing for their tomorrows but plenty for their todays.
Nate’s hospital, Rush University Medical Center, has asked if they can re-post the “GettingThroughThis” blogs from the 42 days of Nate’s cancer. Posting three entries a week on the hospital’s web site, they have just put up Day #14. In this setting God is applying my prayers and the blog words to those who are in the middle of medical issues: pain, disappointment, disease, surgery, even death. The Lord knows what he’s doing.
Thank you, readers, for sharing this experience with me. None of us knows where it’s leading, but we can all be confident God is taking us there together, the whole bunch of us. We are family.
“But to do good and to communicate, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16)
I remember this last summer, when Jonathan and I helped you organize things in the basement and also had the opportunity to have marshmallow when we burned your old papers you wanted gone. And I for the first time ever got to read something that you had written for public, and now I’m doing it everyday!! 🙂
Thanks Margaret! I never thought of you praying for us, although it is so obvious that your words are what God has for us each day. Since I work on a medical oncology unit it is so exciting that Rush is using your blog! Daily I see patients and families struggling with devastating news,often times in a position to open their hearts to God’s message of hope. Your pain is being used in a mighty way to show them His deep love for them when they need it most!
Just want to say thank you for all your wisdom
Margaret, I, too, have been blessed beyond my ability to express it by your blog posts, especially those during Nate’s time of illness and his passing. I hope that at some time in the future there will come forth a book that is a compilation of your posts, your wonderful photography, the journal entries I am sure were written by your family during those times, the blog postings of others, and even some of the words of encouragement you all received. I think it would be a wonderful beacon to people walking down that same path in the dark, trying to find their way. I can see it in my mind. I pray someone else will see it also and God will lead in that direction. Grace and peace to you.
Margaret,
It never ceases to amaze me how God orchestrates before, during and after each situation of our lives. Just by being willing to be transparent enough to share your daily walk with us has deepened the depth to the definition of the title “Getting Through This” and the photo of the tumbling waves. Even during the times when you were at your lowest or most afraid, we saw only God’s grace, strength, and courage flow out of you. Your perseverance and diligence to continue to follow His leading and to stay focused on Him has been an inspirational instrument of hope and encouragement to all of us which have our own daily struggles. God’s word has come to life through the conversations in this blog. He gives you the ability to comfort where you have been comforted. The wisdom you have gained through your life experiences are like nuggets of gold which we cherish and try to implement in our lives. I see a book being formed which will give birth to a new life to all who read it and to you who is allowing God to write through your hands. May God continue to richly bless you in every area of your life for you are such a blessing to all of us!
I have been touched and moved also by your words of wisdom and deep thoughts of encouragement every day that you blog. Ever since i started reading your blogs i have thought of a book form or some form that can even reach more people than you are reaching now. I echo TLC’s thoughts along these lines. God has used you in a marvelous way thru your own pain in healing others.
Everytime I read your daily entries in this blog, I think of your book being titled “To Have and To Hold”. You had Nate and you held him. The Lord has you (us) and He holds you (us).
I also echo TL’c comment; You are truly a beacon of hope and light in the darkness that surrounds us each day and I appreciate your prayers, encouraging words and am blessed beyond expression by your blogs. May God continue to bless you abundantly, exceedingly, above and beyond all you could hope for or ask…and I trust that He will.
Love ya
Margaret –
You are always such an encouragement to me in more ways than you know! I love the title “To Have & To Hold” for your writing that Marjorie suggested!
what/where is that picture? I can’t quite figure it out. It looks like a big wave of water, but it’s staying behind the wall! Just curious!
Love you lots!
Margaret, Is there a story behind the great photo? Just wondering.
Thanks Margaret, our thoughts and prayers go out to you as well. We all need each other in the body of Christ.
I am one of many who have been blessed each day as you share so unselfishly your daily journey. I wish sometimes I could just give you a big hug and say thanks for all the blessings I have received from your blog. God never asks us to walk a journey that he cannot use us to bring glory to HIM. I cannot image how it would be to walk where you have walked and where you will walk in the days and weeks ahead but I am certain that you walk with my Lord and hearing how he walks with you gives me so much assurance that he will also be with me in the days I may make such a journey or any journey that requires an extra measure of His grace. Margaret thanks and blessings as you continue to share! I’m a friend down here in Texas and maybe soon we can be together! You are always welcome to come to Texas! We are continuing to pray for Nelson as he is our missionary! Lovingly! Debbie Crady
The thought that has swirled often each day is. “How did I get in on this?” And you’re right..it’s family. Your cousin, and our shared family griefs and deep discussions in the night over seemingly unanswered prayer and God’s mysterious ways…and one day an email saying..”I think you’ll appreciate what Margaret said about Nate’s healing.” She was right…and I was hooked. Part of the hook is you do not filter out the uncomfortable parts. You have let us see and feel the now-ness of raw emotion, and that is why we can trust you when you talk about God’s grace. I am not nervous that you are going to have a break down because you have been ‘being brave’ and in denial all this time. If the Christian world has a dearth of honest, AND faithful people, how much more does the unbelieving world need a gritty AND HOPE-filled picture of unflinching Christ followers.
And the title of such a book…gestating as we live and breathe…what comes to mind is something huge and crashing like your picture, reflecting the majesty of God and the frailty of one little woman in a cottage in Michigan, meeting a self-imposed deadline each night, with Spirit-imposed words.
Oh Margaret! This blog is a big part of my day. Your encouragement and exhortation in the Lord is truly obedience to the command in Hebrews 10 that we believers spur each other one to good works. You are a dear sister.
Hi Margaret (or it is Mrs. Nyman? I’m not sure what to call you),
You may remember me, or know *of* me. . . my name is Roxana (my parents are Pete and Gaby at Moody Church). I was married almost two years ago to a man named Andy, who has been one of God’s greatest gifts to me.
I heard of your blog from Rebecca back in November when the Lord took your husband home. I was and am very sorry to hear of your loss, but like you, I know the Lord has His ways, and takes us through these deep valleys to bring us to higher peaks that are inevitably full of His grace and beauty. As you say, the Lord (thankfully) does see down our paths and knows when we’ll step into the next season. I am certain that He lead me to you and your blog because He knew where He’d be taking me, and knew what I’d need. I felt almost instantly connected to you (prehaps like a little chick and it’s mother hen 🙂 and have since looked at your writings to find encouragement, and to be reminded of how God’s word stands true in all parts of our lives.
When I began reading I was about three months pregnant and at home on bed rest, trying to maintain a precarious pregnancy that eventually ended when, at the end of January, the Lord took our son, Nathaniel Haddon, home to be with Him. I was a few days shy of being six months pregnant. Maybe your sister told you. As you can imagine, it was and has been a difficult and frustrating time for me. I’ve often found myself literally crying-out to the Lord for relief, wanting to know what His plan is for us and why He had to take our son. At the same time, I have never felt closer to the Lord. Probably because He is indeed near to the broken-hearted. As you know, riding these waves of grief is not easy. There have been days when I’m seemingly “fine,” when life seems generally “normal,” but then there are times when the sorrow hits and I find myself crying tears I didn’t know were in me. I long to hold our son, as I’m sure you long to embrace your husband.
I wonder if they know each other? Either way, I think we can agree that they have indeed been from God, and are proof that “God has given.”
I’m writing all this because I want you to know that the Lord is most certainly using you. You have encouraged me on so many levels. It would be silly to start listing them all. Thank you for how you’re allowing the Lord to work in you, and to bring others nearer to Him.
The Lord has been teaching me many things during these last few months, and one of the lessons has been about the importance of the Body of Christ. I have felt lifted-up and encouraged by the many Believers I know, and I’m sure, by the many that I do not. I am glad and thankful that we are a part of the same body of Christ, the same family, and that we can walk through this journey together. I too look forward to where God is leading us.
In Christ,
Roxana
You don’t know me Margaret but you have no idea how much I look forward to your blog every day. God has given you an amazing gift that you share with the rest of us. I am 16 months into my own grief journey and your wisdom and insight have been such a blessing to me. God bless you for all you do.
Margaret,
Thank you. Thank you for your openness to God’s leading. I read your posts every day – this is unusual for me, as I normally drop off at some point with such things. However, I do so often find your words speaking to me… and God’s word speaking to me. I totally “get” what you mean about being anxious about the subject of your entries… how cool to know that God is daily placing a word in your heart to share with so many. Thanks for your persistence and commitment.
Sincerely,
Nicki
P.S., Roxana – I lost a twin daughter in June of 2008 at 21 weeks, and it was devastating and amazing all at once. If ever you need connection to someone else who has lost an infant child, please don’t hesitate to contact me: nicki@mooreperform.com
Margaret, please read my reply written today but entered on 3/5’s message. Thank you for your many blessings and encouragement. Linda
How beautiful are the feet of those that bring good tidings of peace. Margaret, your faithfulness to your Savior , in being real in the time of your greatest need, has born great fruit. Roxana’s testimony is so powerful! And to have those blogs you wrote during the last few short weeks of Nate’s life, published by Rush as an encouragement to others….Wow and Praise the Lord. Keep on my friend!! God is in this mightily.
Hi Margaret,
While we were singing a song at church this evening, it occurred to me in a fresh way why this blog continues to be an encouragement to so many as these comments testify.
There are a bunch of noisy girls surrounding me right now so the tune is not coming to me, but the words go something like this: “You’re my shield, my strength, my shelter, my portion, my deliverer, my present help in time of need.” Faith that is tested draws people because the finger of God is seen writing His Word across that life. There is God’s Word written on tablets of stone, but then there is God’s Word written on the human heart.
No one welcomes trial, but there is a certain tenderness that comes to the soul in it’s brokenness that makes a person cry out for God to be those very things listed in the song. And when He shows up to be a very present help in time of need, everyone else is drawn to that presence.
The Psalmist wrote, “this is my comfort in my affliction, that Thy Word has revived me… my heart stands in awe of Thy words.” Your blogs are filled with meditations on God’s Word, giving testimony that they are not dry words on stale pages, but life-sustaining and faith nourishing. Your life says that God is a God who is near and not far away.
“Lord, You incline Your ear to us. It brings You great glory when we believe even when we are afflicted. Margaret has been brought low, and You are saving her. Continue to deal bountifully with her, rescue her soul from death, her eyes from tears, and her feet from stumbling.” Psalm 116
I look forward to your blog every day.
Much love,
Terry
I just looked up your blog on the Rush website. AWESOME!! Now so many more have access to your words of wisdom and comfort.
This blog got a lot of comments… I join in saying how MUCH I appreciate your prayers, your words, and your wonderful loving friendship.
I am also an avid reader of this blog. It has encouraged me, re-enforeced my faith, let me see God’s hand at work so many times. Each and everyday when I am reading this blog, I pray for this family of bloggers, so many I know but have lost touch with. This is a wonderful way to connect. God is, has and will continue to use this blog for His Glory.
My Dear Margaret, I’ll add my voice to the chorus of friends cheering, “I’m here! Thank you for writing each day.” I often start to write a comment only to get stuck feeling like I don’t have much substance to add…but hadn’t realized that you might be encouraged just knowing I’m reading. I do read each day’s post and am thankful for the Titus 2 way you’re teaching me about parenting, marriage, and life’s ups and downs. And thank you for praying for your readers. That’s just like you. The kids and I love and miss you! God bless you “real good!” today!
I have a friend who sends these to me after reading them herself. I am 4 years into my grief journey. It’s been very hard and you are helping – even this far after I lost my husband! Thank you!
God uses you DAILY even almost a year later (as I catch up) in my life as well.