This week a dear family friend, a husband, dad, grandpa (Pop Pop) who was like a father to me left this land of the dying to be with Jesus in the land of the living.
It is a sacred and holy event.
He knew he probably only had four to six weeks to live when he found out about his disease so he visited with family and friends and asked them to take on a challenge. To honor him and his family I’d like to extend his daily challenge to you as part of our scripture memory post. He asked that all his loved ones and friends commit to read a chapter of the New Testament and to ask Christ to speak to them through the scriptures each day. A simple request. It’s a few minutes each day that changes lives. Maybe you’ll consider the challenge because:
There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. 2 Tim. 3:15-17 MSG
Although family and friends undoubtedly persevere in sorrow when a loved one goes on, my prayer is that grief and joy can beautifully dance together in mourning a loss and celebrating a life and legacy.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV
A couple of potential memory verses I’ve had on my heart to share:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles. 2 Cor. 1:3-4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matt. 5:4
May our ears and eyes be open to the true riches of this life so often found in suffering…and if I may ask…what would your final request be if you thought you only had a few weeks to live? I’m pondering and would love to hear from you.
-Madge
Today is my dad’s birthday. He would be 82, and passed away when he was 62. This photo was taken when he was in his thirties. Handsome man!
He took the family on a three week camping and sightseeing trip out west the summer after mom #1 passed away! A brave man.
A little over a year after my mom was gone I met the woman who would become mom #2. True love marries a handsome man with five children!
He taught us to garden. I hated pulling weeds, but loved gathering the squash, lettuce, greens, beans, broccoli, cucumbers, tomatoes, melons, and especially digging up potatoes!
Dad taught us all to fish and hunt. I’ll spare you the deer hunting photographs. I could shoot a rifle or shotgun, but never could kill an animal. I just couldn’t pull the trigger if a deer was standing in front of me and I’d follow the dove as they flew across the sky, never daring to pull the trigger when birds were in sight.
Dad was a techie and true geek from a young age. My husband’s office reminds me of dad’s. My theory is if Brent had met my dad he might still be in his basement talking and tinkering with electronics. What do you think? Look at this photo of Brent’s set up!
Brent and his Ham radio gear.
This is one of the last photos taken of mom #2 and dad together during a trip they took to Greece.
In the book