Category Archives: God’s character

Walking and Running

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Once in a while we hear this statement: “We’ll give a donation to your favorite charity.” I’ve always been intrigued by that, wondering if everyone actually has a favorite charity. If we don’t, maybe we should.

???????????????????????????????When our Aunt Agnes died (here being worshiped by our dog Toby), her will actually listed 17 favorite charities, with her estate divided accordingly. She was a practical example of generosity, but the importance of her big-heartedness didn’t end there. All giving brings pleasure to God, and hers surely did. But he isn’t necessarily looking for 17 favorite charities or even for big gifts. After all, he highlighted “the widow’s mite” in Scripture as a stunning example of good giving.

I think his main point was the woman’s attitude. Despite having little, she still gave. A question for all of us then is, how happily do we separate ourselves from the effort, money, or time we consider to be “ours”?

From personal experience I know this can be a lesson that resists learning, but if we’re stingy, maybe our hearts aren’t in a right place with God. If we give easily and joyfully, we know God is pleased. We also get the fun of “more blessed to give than receive.”

Cancer bandRecently I’ve become acquainted with an organization that exists to “advance research, support patients, and create hope for those affected by pancreatic cancer.” Although I’ve known about this group and others since Nate died of pancreatic in 2009, I’ve never done anything to help. It took Mary’s diagnosis, piled atop my husband’s, to motivate me.

Her children took the initiative, urging our extended family to sign up for an April 26th 5K walk/run in Chicago that’s all about pancreatic cancer. Though my last “race” was probably in the 1950’s, I’m good-to-go for this one, at least the family-friendly walking part.

Mary and Bervin’s home church (Moody) did some organizing, too, and put together a team of runners/walkers with a fabulous name: “Marchers for Mary.” Mary said, “I’d like to be there in some form or fashion. We’ll see. It continues to astound me the way people are giving and sharing, all because of my cancer. I just can’t get over it.”

Maybe this isn’t so much about “a favorite charity” as about Mary being our “favorite pancreatic cancer patient” right now. And even if she doesn’t feel up to the 5K walk, her testimony of God’s sufficiency through this life-and-death crisis is really the greater gift.

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Mary’s Prayer Requests 

  1. For a sign from God to know which hospital/medical team to use for chemotherapy
  2. Mary requests that she “soak up” the powerful reality of the Easter story this weekend
  3. Praise she was able to return to the church ministry “Mom to Mom” this morning and do her part
  4. Praise for encouragement from the 5K team, “Marchers for Mary”

Good Choices

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???????????????????????????????Today I had several builders visit my Michigan home at different times. After conversations with each of them about a back yard deck I have in my imagination, they all promised exact estimates by the middle of next week. Listening to them describe their individual takes on the sketch I made, I realized there are as many ways to approach deck-building as people willing to build them. But it’s always a good idea to get a second or even a third opinion.

Mary and Bervin have had to go through that process too, with her diagnosis, surgery and treatment for cancer. Wisdom dictated getting several opinions, weighing the differences, and making a well-informed choice. Scripture says there is safety in a multitude of counselors, but of course it matters who we choose to advise us.

7th HeavenThe same is true of our spiritual choices. Of the many gods available to follow these days, which one should we choose? I remember an old TV episode on a show called “7th Heaven.” It was the story of a protestant pastor, his wife, and 7 children.

One episode dealt with the subject of being unkind to others and the “guilt-gut” that inevitably followed. The problem, then, was how to get rid of it. During the show, two of the younger children went on a search for the answer, visiting clergy members representing several “isms”: Buddhism, Judaism, and Catholicism. They were collecting opinions, first, second, and third. Their quest was for relief from guilt, wanting to substitute peace instead. Each religion suggested something different.

Their quest was representative of the spiritual choices all of us have to make. God created us with consciences, and when we do something that produces “guilt-gut,” we want to straighten it out a.s.a.p. But where do we go for a first, second, or third opinion? Do we honestly seek truth, or do we look for advisers who will agree with the point of view we already have?

Mary and Bervin sought the experts and chose well. Committing to Minnesota open-endedly wasn’t an easy choice, but it was the right one. (They’ll actually be driving back there again this weekend for additional tests and a chemotherapy plan.)

As for my deck (a choice that’s trivial compared to the decisions Mary and Bervin have had to make), I hope I choose well. Concerning spiritual choices, the best Counselor is the Holy Spirit, who will lead us to the one true God. It’s the only decision we’ll ever make where no second or third opinion will be needed.

And BTW, this one true God is the only one who can effectively remove “guilt-gut.”

“Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” (Romans 5:1)

Mary’s Prayer Requests

  1. Praise for one pound gained!
  2. For continued weight gain
  3. For the Lord to guard her heart and mind during the night when fears sneak in
  4. Praise for a beautiful weather-day and time spent sitting out in the sun

 

 

You didn’t ask.

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FOBMary and I share the same taste in movies. High on our list is a set of clean-cut family films, Father of the Bride I and II. Tonight as Mary and I talked on the phone, a line from the second movie was rolling around in my head.

Nina and George, a middle-aged couple trying to cope with life’s changes, decide to sell their spectacular big home. Both are deeply attached to it but think a new place might bring a fresh start.

Immediately after selling, they learn their buyer is about to raze the house and build two in its place. George plants himself between the house and the wrecking ball, determined to save “his” home.

Mr. HabeebWith great alarm he says, “You didn’t tell me you were going to destroy it!”

Mr. Habeeb (the buyer) says, “You didn’t ask.”

*             *              *              *              *

 

There’s no way we can think to ask all the important questions in life. Had George thought to ask, he wouldn’t have sold.

In the last 40 days, Mary and Bervin have been bombarded with medical information, and at the end of each instruction they’ve been asked, “Do you have any questions?”

Most of us are overloaded at moments like that and usually say, “I don’t think so.”

Isn’t it nice to know there is a place without any pressure to ask the right questions? It’s in our relationship with God.

He says a time will come when he’ll send answers to our questions before we even ask them, and Mary and Bervin have experienced that already.

photo(118)For example, yesterday Mary’s feeding tube clogged. Despite Bervin’s mechanical know-how, he couldn’t get it functioning, and Mary was without nutrition for 24 hours. So today they headed back to the hospital for a repair or, if necessary, a painful surgical procedure to correct the problem.

Despite a valiant effort on the part of two “tube experts,” the flow remained blocked, and over hours of time, Mary was admitted and prepped for the procedure. At the last minute, however, a new tech appeared. “Let me try,” he said, and all of a sudden the tube cleared.

How often is a patient told, “You can climb off the table, ditch the hospital gown, and get dressed.” Mary and Bervin hadn’t asked God to spare her from the procedure, but he gave that anyway.

In another example, just before Mary transferred from the hospital to the hotel last week, a 30-something man with a serious infection was rolled into the room across the hall. A sad young wife and the man’s troubled parents told Mary this was his 4th surgery in a short time, and stress was running high.

As she sat in her empty room awaiting discharge papers, she wished she had something to give them. Just then a gift was delivered to Mary’s room, which she immediately shared with the folks across the hall. She hadn’t asked, but God had answered.

In Father of the Bride II, Mr. Habeeb gave George’s house back to him, but not before George had emptied his bank account. But our generous God delivers his positive answers…. without charge.

“I will answer them before they even call to me.” (Isaiah 65:24)

Mary’s prayer requests:

  1. Praise for the friendly competent staff at Mayo’s
  2. Praise for the cleared tube and aborted surgery
  3. Pray the change in formula will bring relief from abdominal gas pain
  4. Pray for serious weight gain, now that Mary is down to 109 lbs, at 5’7”.