Thanksliving

Posted on by

Tom and BettyAdjusting to the death of a spouse is always a challenge, but when there isn’t a minute of warning, it’s doubly difficult. That’s what happened to my neighbor and friend, Betty, when her husband Tom collapsed in an instant.

The two of them were on their way from Michigan to Chicago’s Loop for a couple of appointments and a night in a downtown hotel. But while walking from the train, their lives took an unexpected, unwelcome turn.

Tom said he needed to sit down for a moment, after which he put his head back and lost consciousness. Thankfully a policeman nearby was ready to help, and in just a few minutes Tom was on his way to a hospital. But God’s angels had already escorted him out of Chicago and into Paradise.

Because Tom was a vibrant man full of positive energy, his absence has left a big hole in the lives of many, especially Betty. But there’s great satisfaction in knowing his eternity was and is secure. That’s because decades ago he had entrusted his life (and his death) to God.

I attend the same church as Betty and Tom, and last fall our pastor preached a series called “Thanksliving,” emphasizing the importance of living with gratitude. One Sunday he handed out rubberized bracelets with “Thanksliving” written on them, and Tom was quick to put one on.

The braceletLong after the sermon series had ended and most people’s bracelets had been put away, the pastor asked Tom when he was going to take his off. He responded that he wasn’t… just like he wasn’t going to stop thanks-living.

When he died, he was still wearing the bracelet.

Tom had made up his mind to be a thankful person, despite the fact that his life had been plagued with trouble – beginning with a motorcycle accident in young adulthood that nearly killed him and then derailed his first-choice career. But through that and other close calls with death, Tom refused to feel sorry for himself. He never complained.

Why is God so firm about insisting we always be grateful, even in dire circumstances? It’s probably because he knows that as we search for blessings, what we’re going to find is him. And when we lay hold of him, we’ll be lifted from a problem-focus to a possibility-focus.

IMG_5400All things are possible with God. But the power he promises to put into our situations will be lost on us if we don’t look to him with appreciative hearts. And that’s not all. When we choose gratitude, it’s our golden opportunity to give blessing back to God.

Betty will miss Tom for a long time to come, but after 45 years of marriage, I have a hunch the two of them were probably in cahoots on this thanksliving thing. As a  matter of fact, Betty just might decide to wear his bracelet herself.

The Lord says… “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me.” (Psalm 50:23)

God’s Etchings

Posted on by

Today the sun is shining, and weather.com says we’re going to break 60 degrees. Spring’s brilliant green is everywhere, and even my reluctant hostas are reaching for the sky. It’s difficult to believe that only 3 weeks ago we had a hard frost, the kind that feels like late October.

God's etching.When I climbed into the car that day, the view out my windshield was stunning, like God had put an exclamation point at the end of winter. I sat and stared at what looked like etched glass, the artwork of our Creator, wishing I didn’t have to turn on the defroster.

Of course my windshield wasn’t actually etched or cut into. It just looked that way. As I waited for it to clear, I thought about the process of etching (or engraving), which is meant to leave a permanent mark on something.

For example, when we bought a two-wheeled bike for our first child on his 5th birthday, the village hall suggested we engrave an identifying mark onto it so that if it was ever stolen and then recovered, we’d have proof of ownership.

Etched signatureAn artist of glass or stone often etches his mark, signature, or number into his work when it’s completed so no one else can claim it’s theirs. I have several glass sculptures with etched identification on them, and there’s no way these marks could be removed without marring the piece.

In Scripture God makes mention of a significant marking he’s made on himself in reference to us. One translation reads, “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:16) He may not want us to take this literally, but his point is surely that we are inseparable from him. Once we commit our lives to him, he makes it permanent. And if we ever doubt it, he’s given us the etching visual to depict our close relationship to him.

One other Bible verse makes reference to etching, but this time God wants us to do it. He instructs us to learn all we can from him and then protect that wisdom. We’re supposed to guard the truth he imparts and keep it as close to our hearts as an etched signature is to a sculpture.

God's etchingAs for my windshield etchings, in just a few minutes they had morphed into rivulets of water and were gone. But my thoughts about God’s willingness to etch me on his hand made we want to etch him on my heart as a sign that nothing can separate us.

“My teaching is as precious as your eyesight—guard it!…. Etch it on the chambers of your heart.” (Proverbs 7:2-3, The Message)

Accepting Revisions

Posted on by

In yesterday’s post we learned of little Elizabeth Anne Nyman’s arrival into her family, bringing the revised count up to 7.These first 24 hours have been like a symphony of praise as we’ve all sent waves of gratitude up to the Lord.

Bigger by one!

A sister-blessingFive-year-old Evelyn is gleeful over the blessing of a sister, and the older boys are finding Elizabeth interesting and appealing.

And then there’s Andrew.

One month short of turning two, he has no idea how his life is about to change, and from his point of view, it’ll all be negative. Visitors will arrive with gifts…. for Elizabeth. The camera will be clicking continually…. focused on Elizabeth. He’ll have to wait longer for his turn…. because of Elizabeth. And he’ll be carried less…. since mummy will be carrying Elizabeth.

Look at ME!Over time Andrew may make objections to these and other changes, but his reign as “the baby” has come to an end. Of course his parents will be conscious of this difficult adjustment, giving him as much one-on-one as they can. Hans said it well, though: “It’ll be the best thing in the world for him.”

Most two-year-olds assume they’re the center of the universe, and there’s nothing like a new baby in the house to teach them they’re not.

Interestingly, we adults sometimes have to learn this same lesson in different ways. When God tells us “no” to something we dearly want, he is acting as our loving Parent and has important reasons why a “no” is good for us. As a result, we may have a toddler-style tantrum – not that anyone can see, but inside our heads.

It’s easy to mentally rebel against a choice God makes for us by determining we’re going to do it our way anyway. But he isn’t swayed by our toddler-like behavior and doesn’t change his mind just to make us happy. Katy and Hans won’t acquiesce to Andrew, either, if he makes unreasonable demands in the weeks to come.

No “demotion” from the place we want to be is without its angst, but in Andrew’s case, eventually he’ll adjust to his revised role in the family and life will get easier for him. Hopefully we adults learn to respond to God’s revisions well, too, so we can escape the harsh natural consequences that often come when we resist.

It's all good now!Yesterday’s post also included the story of our Linnea who didn’t get the baby sister she’d been hoping for but got a 4th brother instead. Though she fought it at first, it wasn’t too long before she got on board with God’s choice. And two good things came from that: (1) she learned to be faithful in prayer (asking for a sister), and (2) she learned that God does answer prayer, sometimes lavishly! Not too long after she got a 4th brother, she got two more siblings. Both sisters.

 

As the old chorus goes, God’s way is the best way.

“Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life.” (Proverbs 10:17)