Through the years David and I have talked about death and dying. This is not morbid but looking honestly at what comes to all of us. We have expressed a desire to “die well”. By this I mean honoring the Lord and accepting His will in whatever way He plans for us to leave this life. My dear, dear, husband is dying well.
David never once has questioned God in all of this. He has accepted this cancer as His plan. From the beginning we have prayed for healing, but always submitting our will to God who knows so much better than us what He is doing. David’s greatest desire has been for God to be glorified in his life. I believe He is.
Not quite two years ago David took a weekend and walked a section of the Appalachian Trail with a friend. You have to be somewhat in shape physically to do that. He loved it and wanted to do more. He was faithful to walk on the treadmill to stay in shape, to be prepared for the “next time”.
David loved looking at the stars in the night sky. He has a telescope and on cold nights he would get out on our deck and look at the stars. They would set his mind soaring on the Creator.
Since David was 6 years old he has played the piano. God has used his gift in many ways through the years. He has written worship songs in English and Wolof. He has taught hundreds of children to play the piano. He has lead worship in several churches. How he has filled our home with beautiful music! I could sit and listen to him for hours.
He would daily spend time reading the Word of God and always had three or four other books on his night stand that he was reading through; Christian, comics, and astronomy to physics.
He has read book after book, gone for walks, built fires, and had races in the backyard with the grandchildren, loving to hear those voices say, “Do it again, granddaddy!”
Now he is unable to do any of these things. He lies in his bed unable to even roll over on his own, much less walk or run. He has lost most of his sight so he is unable to read or look at the stars. He no longer can sit at the piano and worship the Lord through his music. He is unable to play with his grandchildren or read to them. BUT…
lying in his bed he is SHOUTING his faith in the God he loves and has trusted all these years. He trusts Him to take him all the way home and NEVER the first complaint over what he has lost or what he can no longer do. His gaze is fixed on what he is gaining.
How I love this man. Even in dying he is teaching me about faith and trust.
David never once has questioned God in all of this. He has accepted this cancer as His plan. From the beginning we have prayed for healing, but always submitting our will to God who knows so much better than us what He is doing. David’s greatest desire has been for God to be glorified in his life. I believe He is.
Not quite two years ago David took a weekend and walked a section of the Appalachian Trail with a friend. You have to be somewhat in shape physically to do that. He loved it and wanted to do more. He was faithful to walk on the treadmill to stay in shape, to be prepared for the “next time”.
David loved looking at the stars in the night sky. He has a telescope and on cold nights he would get out on our deck and look at the stars. They would set his mind soaring on the Creator.
Since David was 6 years old he has played the piano. God has used his gift in many ways through the years. He has written worship songs in English and Wolof. He has taught hundreds of children to play the piano. He has lead worship in several churches. How he has filled our home with beautiful music! I could sit and listen to him for hours.
He would daily spend time reading the Word of God and always had three or four other books on his night stand that he was reading through; Christian, comics, and astronomy to physics.
He has read book after book, gone for walks, built fires, and had races in the backyard with the grandchildren, loving to hear those voices say, “Do it again, granddaddy!”
Now he is unable to do any of these things. He lies in his bed unable to even roll over on his own, much less walk or run. He has lost most of his sight so he is unable to read or look at the stars. He no longer can sit at the piano and worship the Lord through his music. He is unable to play with his grandchildren or read to them. BUT…
lying in his bed he is SHOUTING his faith in the God he loves and has trusted all these years. He trusts Him to take him all the way home and NEVER the first complaint over what he has lost or what he can no longer do. His gaze is fixed on what he is gaining.
How I love this man. Even in dying he is teaching me about faith and trust.
Pam
“Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:16
“Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:16
