Why are we all surprised by death? It never fails to catch us unawares and yet as my Mexican friend Beli said today it is the one thing that every human being can be absolutely sure of.
My dad just died last Wednesday evening November 24th .I had seen him between the 24th of October and the 6th of November when I took some time to be with my folks. Since I live several thousand miles and two countries away the trip became a very special gift of memories.
Like so many people there was more than one side to my dad. The world was pretty much his friend and his funeral proved that. As my Uncle Paul said "your dad was some kind of rock star in this town... look at this crowd!!" Indeed he was "cousin" , the "uncle ", the father even , of many all over the county .
He loved to talk and you had to have a lot of time if you were going to do business with him. His day could have been much more prosperous financially if he was focused on money but he wasn't and he took more time with people than doing the actual job he came for. I confess that at times I just cringed thinking people were going to be impatient with him but since then I have heard a lot of stories of how people just enjoyed his stories.
I can remember many incidents where dad was not paid for his work and he would simply not go after the person to pay up.. though mom sometimes did to put bread on the table. The little he had in his pocket he would happily give away.
He was very smart in most areas of his life though he was physically less and less able to do the heavy work he had done all his life. At the same time, however, he was known to have placed trust where it was not merited.
There is no one who knew dad better than his kids. Its funny how some people think they know more about the person you lived with continually for years because of how they knew him. He was all the things that people knew him as but he was also more.
His moods , temperament , emotions and passions were often scary to us when we were children. As we grew older most of us just wanted dad to have peace with himself and with God. We could see it beginning to happen in the last three years of his life as he became so much softer and demonstrative towards mom and his own children . It was a very long time coming.
Was dad a wonderful man ? Yes he was in many respects to many people. Was he a person with weakness and sin and unresolved problems ? Yes he was that too .
Did I and do I love him ? Absolutely and unequivocally.. I couldn't do otherwise even when he was at his most unloving. Why ?? Because love covers a multitude of sin. He's the only earthly dad I will ever have.
As we said at his eulogy.. everything was crystal clear to dad after his death. He immediately understood what he had not about himself and others. We are absolutely certain that his message in that instant to all of us would be "give glory to God alone " love your family and care for others. Do not hold grudges or bitternesses against others rather be the first to say I'm sorry no matter who is at fault. Keep daily accounts with God and love Him with all your heart, soul and mind for tomorrow you too could meet the creator face to face.
Some may think it is too soon to be writing this while I am still dealing with my own grief but I feel there is no time like the present.
I love you Dad.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
July 4th , 2010 is about to come to a close. Its my 60th birthday. Ron said to me tonight.."who ever would have thought we'd make it to 60?!" That's just the point. We did not even give it a thought because it was so far away that it was unreal. But reality has arrived and I truly see that in all that has happened in my life..the good, the bad, and the ugly... I am today truly blessed.
I got to bed somewhat later than my usual early to bed routine as we were at Victor Mejia Reyes wedding. That's a whole story by itself. We have shared a lot of time just chatting and sharing with him over the last 8 years.. since he was a teenager. Now he is a married man with a degree in theology plus Hebrew and Greek, a wife, and a new job as pastor of our sister church Koninea en Cristo. It was quite the Mexican evening but I will save it for another time.
We woke suddenly at 3 a.m. to the tune of our small dog Miss Piggy's sharp barking. She simply would not be quieted. After speaking to her several times Ron finally turned on some outdoor lights and we could hear a hiss and knew something was under the truck. Finally we let our big dog "bear" out of her location in the backyard to scare whatever was under the truck out of hiding. It was a rather large iguana. No sooner was the iguana spooked out of hiding than our dear gentle Piggy grabbed it and ran with it. I am sorry to say there was no rescue for that iguana. Even the very large lab "bear" could not get the prize from piglets jaws. Thus entered July 4th 2010. As a result I awoke late and moving slowly.
There were a few other events before church which were good reminders of the grace of God and how precious our children are but for the sake of privacy I will stop there. Lets just say there was some rejoicing in our yard this morning at 9 at what had NOT happened to one little 7 year old girl!
Off to church and I am so refreshed to have young people in our midst. A church almost entirely made up of seniors is always ready to have young people come and belong to the family!!
The hotel that we meet in made a surprise cake for me which we all went down to the restaurant and shared with juice and then even some red wine for the toast to the birthday girl. Did I mention that its me!! Home again home again and then the surprise come and go coffee and cake reception.
Unfortunately I was also the recipient of a group email invitation by my unknowing dear husband and so the surprise element was shot! So from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. we had quite a few folk from my life here coming to give their greetings and best wishes. Ron said he would have to invite the town if he was going to get to all the people who might come!! Not quite true but the sentiment is well taken!! At 7 :20 p.m. we finally had to say we were going out to the last few young lingerers and we headed out for one last hurrah for dinner.
At Escolleras ( unbelievable view!) we started with escargot and then had lobster bisque after which I had Dorado empapelado and stuffed with cheeses and shrimp. They sang to me and brought me cake but half way through my meal I was done eating. I told Ron that one thing about growing up is knowing when you have reached your limit and realizing you do not have to clean your plate!!
So we came home with a doggy bag. Lots of phone calls from dear friends all over the map and two out of three children (not bad!!). I really felt cherished.
How do I feel?? Well the number 60 really turns me off quite frankly but when I think about it its simply another epoch in my life. I can do well or not. I choose to do well. Continuing in service to the Lord Jesus Christ for as long as He gives me breath.
I start an exercise program tomorrow. Really!!
I got to bed somewhat later than my usual early to bed routine as we were at Victor Mejia Reyes wedding. That's a whole story by itself. We have shared a lot of time just chatting and sharing with him over the last 8 years.. since he was a teenager. Now he is a married man with a degree in theology plus Hebrew and Greek, a wife, and a new job as pastor of our sister church Koninea en Cristo. It was quite the Mexican evening but I will save it for another time.
We woke suddenly at 3 a.m. to the tune of our small dog Miss Piggy's sharp barking. She simply would not be quieted. After speaking to her several times Ron finally turned on some outdoor lights and we could hear a hiss and knew something was under the truck. Finally we let our big dog "bear" out of her location in the backyard to scare whatever was under the truck out of hiding. It was a rather large iguana. No sooner was the iguana spooked out of hiding than our dear gentle Piggy grabbed it and ran with it. I am sorry to say there was no rescue for that iguana. Even the very large lab "bear" could not get the prize from piglets jaws. Thus entered July 4th 2010. As a result I awoke late and moving slowly.
There were a few other events before church which were good reminders of the grace of God and how precious our children are but for the sake of privacy I will stop there. Lets just say there was some rejoicing in our yard this morning at 9 at what had NOT happened to one little 7 year old girl!
Off to church and I am so refreshed to have young people in our midst. A church almost entirely made up of seniors is always ready to have young people come and belong to the family!!
The hotel that we meet in made a surprise cake for me which we all went down to the restaurant and shared with juice and then even some red wine for the toast to the birthday girl. Did I mention that its me!! Home again home again and then the surprise come and go coffee and cake reception.
Unfortunately I was also the recipient of a group email invitation by my unknowing dear husband and so the surprise element was shot! So from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. we had quite a few folk from my life here coming to give their greetings and best wishes. Ron said he would have to invite the town if he was going to get to all the people who might come!! Not quite true but the sentiment is well taken!! At 7 :20 p.m. we finally had to say we were going out to the last few young lingerers and we headed out for one last hurrah for dinner.
At Escolleras ( unbelievable view!) we started with escargot and then had lobster bisque after which I had Dorado empapelado and stuffed with cheeses and shrimp. They sang to me and brought me cake but half way through my meal I was done eating. I told Ron that one thing about growing up is knowing when you have reached your limit and realizing you do not have to clean your plate!!
So we came home with a doggy bag. Lots of phone calls from dear friends all over the map and two out of three children (not bad!!). I really felt cherished.
How do I feel?? Well the number 60 really turns me off quite frankly but when I think about it its simply another epoch in my life. I can do well or not. I choose to do well. Continuing in service to the Lord Jesus Christ for as long as He gives me breath.
I start an exercise program tomorrow. Really!!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
What good news??
Ok it's Saturday May 15th and it is bloomin' hot here in Zihuatanejo!! And apart from that it seems it is also the time of year when the people start burning off the grass etc in the surrounding hills and the air is thick with smoke!!
It's been a weird week in some ways. I do not function well in the extreme heat so at 5 o"clock at night today I went to the hospital to see a couple of people that I had not been able to talk to on Friday.. The major part of the heat of the day is finished but the smoke is really getting started once again having settled a bit since last night.
One patient is 16 and had just had a caesarian.She now has a baby girl. She is alone except that she has a very supportive 19 year old sister.Not sure how she will manage since she has no job and will depend on her sister to support her . The father of the baby is not in the picture at all and does not know he just had a baby girl.. I brought her one of the famous Youngstown Ladies baby quilts and some shampoo and soap for mama but it may well be the last time I see her. I have one chance to share with the girls what is important and that God has a plan even in this.
The second patient is a young 20 year old man who had to have surgery and is a diabetic and also on dialysis.One of his recent admissions was an attempted suicide. For the second time in two days ... he was sound asleep... he didn't even flinch when the nurse injected him. His mom is there day and night as is the custom here and looks tired and discouraged. So I chatted with her and tried to encourage her even though things look dismal. Perhaps she is the one who I will get to know and share God's love with.
Then, since I had the car out, I went to visit my friend in the centro who has had huge problems in the last year since the sudden death of her husband. She is a Christian. Having already walked with her through many of the issues and her fears and worries..today was very weird. It was like something was very off in her personality. So I told her that I thought something was amiss. She tried to say it wasn't the case but I know her. Then I told her about how some people think I am too direct (no comments please!!) and I really have worked on being more gentle but now that I am in the third age (a term used for all of us over 55 here in Mexico) I have recognized that there is no 4th age!! So I know time is at a premium. We get the days allotted to us and God already know how many that is.. so I am afraid I will become even more direct with those I care about and even with those who I may meet only once if God so directs. I hope I will be gentle but truthful for the time is short and our days are but a breath. Ask anyone over 60 and they will assure you that time has flown, and that it was like yesterday that they were a teenager.
What's my point?I refuse to beat around the bush if I love you but even if God puts you in my path as a virtual stranger I already know what my responsibility is because God loves you way more than I ever could and thats the good news you need to hear!!.
It's been a weird week in some ways. I do not function well in the extreme heat so at 5 o"clock at night today I went to the hospital to see a couple of people that I had not been able to talk to on Friday.. The major part of the heat of the day is finished but the smoke is really getting started once again having settled a bit since last night.
One patient is 16 and had just had a caesarian.She now has a baby girl. She is alone except that she has a very supportive 19 year old sister.Not sure how she will manage since she has no job and will depend on her sister to support her . The father of the baby is not in the picture at all and does not know he just had a baby girl.. I brought her one of the famous Youngstown Ladies baby quilts and some shampoo and soap for mama but it may well be the last time I see her. I have one chance to share with the girls what is important and that God has a plan even in this.
The second patient is a young 20 year old man who had to have surgery and is a diabetic and also on dialysis.One of his recent admissions was an attempted suicide. For the second time in two days ... he was sound asleep... he didn't even flinch when the nurse injected him. His mom is there day and night as is the custom here and looks tired and discouraged. So I chatted with her and tried to encourage her even though things look dismal. Perhaps she is the one who I will get to know and share God's love with.
Then, since I had the car out, I went to visit my friend in the centro who has had huge problems in the last year since the sudden death of her husband. She is a Christian. Having already walked with her through many of the issues and her fears and worries..today was very weird. It was like something was very off in her personality. So I told her that I thought something was amiss. She tried to say it wasn't the case but I know her. Then I told her about how some people think I am too direct (no comments please!!) and I really have worked on being more gentle but now that I am in the third age (a term used for all of us over 55 here in Mexico) I have recognized that there is no 4th age!! So I know time is at a premium. We get the days allotted to us and God already know how many that is.. so I am afraid I will become even more direct with those I care about and even with those who I may meet only once if God so directs. I hope I will be gentle but truthful for the time is short and our days are but a breath. Ask anyone over 60 and they will assure you that time has flown, and that it was like yesterday that they were a teenager.
What's my point?I refuse to beat around the bush if I love you but even if God puts you in my path as a virtual stranger I already know what my responsibility is because God loves you way more than I ever could and thats the good news you need to hear!!.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Outsmarting the Enemy!!
It started with just a very few. Within two weeks it blocked their ears and then within a very short time affected their whole organism. The approved approach to the problem did not seem to make a dent in the issue and the next thing we knew the dastardly stuff had entered our domicile and was affecting our lives.We keep switching tactics trying to outsmart our enemy but so far it is more like a standoff than a battle won. We have not yet found the answer!
Sheesh. It sounds like any sort of temptation or vice we might be trying to avoid but I am talking about TICKS!!! The tiny critters stay underground till you have animals...(we have 2 dogs now) and then they come out with a vengeance in the heat. They latch on to the poor beasts with tenacity and although you might think you are winning the battle they keep reproducing. I need some nematodes that love ticks!! We will keep up the battle till we have won and in the meantime any tick that dares enter the premises and is seen will meet their end at the fateful bbq lighter torching of enemy ticks!!
In the last month I have been trying to teach English to some doctors working at the hospital. I do my best for them and since they all have a certain amount of the basics it makes it somewhat easier on me. I do not have the approved courses but for some reason they want me to do this. Since I really have no one to answer to or hand my lesson plan in to I can really have fun with it. Much to my surprise in this "Roman Catholic" country very few of the docs really had a very good grasp on the true meaning of the Easter celebration. So we did some study and teaching on it. I included music. We learned words like debt and grave and praise. Then my lovely suited up doctors all sang with me "Lord I lift your Name on High" with the actions!!! As I watched them and sang with them it was very hard to keep a big grin off my face as I gave thanks for this opportunity to go beyond the ESL programs and be an ambassador while teaching. What a privilege. Having said that I would still be thrilled to find some kind of text that would give me and my students a bit more order to the learning!!
My nephews and nieces and my kids will not be surprised at my teaching tactics .. they think I am "special" What's with that??
Easter has come and gone and we will mark 8 years in Mexico soon. In that time so much has transpired in our lives and in the lives of friends back in Youngstown. This past week the Lord took home a man who was very precious to us who had just celebrated his 90th birthday. It is the way it is ... each of us has his alotted days.
May we all be ready and looking forward to that day when we will see Him face to face just as Jim Proudfoot is seeing Him now!.
Sheesh. It sounds like any sort of temptation or vice we might be trying to avoid but I am talking about TICKS!!! The tiny critters stay underground till you have animals...(we have 2 dogs now) and then they come out with a vengeance in the heat. They latch on to the poor beasts with tenacity and although you might think you are winning the battle they keep reproducing. I need some nematodes that love ticks!! We will keep up the battle till we have won and in the meantime any tick that dares enter the premises and is seen will meet their end at the fateful bbq lighter torching of enemy ticks!!
In the last month I have been trying to teach English to some doctors working at the hospital. I do my best for them and since they all have a certain amount of the basics it makes it somewhat easier on me. I do not have the approved courses but for some reason they want me to do this. Since I really have no one to answer to or hand my lesson plan in to I can really have fun with it. Much to my surprise in this "Roman Catholic" country very few of the docs really had a very good grasp on the true meaning of the Easter celebration. So we did some study and teaching on it. I included music. We learned words like debt and grave and praise. Then my lovely suited up doctors all sang with me "Lord I lift your Name on High" with the actions!!! As I watched them and sang with them it was very hard to keep a big grin off my face as I gave thanks for this opportunity to go beyond the ESL programs and be an ambassador while teaching. What a privilege. Having said that I would still be thrilled to find some kind of text that would give me and my students a bit more order to the learning!!
My nephews and nieces and my kids will not be surprised at my teaching tactics .. they think I am "special" What's with that??
Easter has come and gone and we will mark 8 years in Mexico soon. In that time so much has transpired in our lives and in the lives of friends back in Youngstown. This past week the Lord took home a man who was very precious to us who had just celebrated his 90th birthday. It is the way it is ... each of us has his alotted days.
May we all be ready and looking forward to that day when we will see Him face to face just as Jim Proudfoot is seeing Him now!.
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