I'm Glad for It!

There are times in the course of my daily life when I come across something that reminds me of different things that happened during the 48 years that my wife and I were together and especially when I was caring for her during the last eleven years of her earthly existence.  Some are funny and cause me to smile or maybe even burst out laughing in some of the most unlikely places.  At other times, they may cause me to tear up or catch me unaware, so-much-so that I need to make a quick exit from the public place I currently am in and find a quiet spot alone in order for me to compose myself.

I will admit though, that with the passing of time, the smiles and laughs now exceed the sad times as I find that I tend to enjoy replaying all the fun and sometimes down-right silly things that Piper and I did together from high school into our senior years.  Even when the ravages of the Alzheimer’s encroached upon her mind and body, we could still find things to laugh about… and I went out of my way to share funny things with her, even during the times when she was unable to show any recognition at my attempts at humor!  I always loved to make her laugh… as she did to me!

Over the weekend I suddenly found myself thinking about some of the unusual responses and reactions that different individuals had made during Piper’s illness.  And I could only laugh and shake my head (which could have been dangerous since I was shaving at the time…) as I thought… “You know… they just didn’t react like normal people do in similar situations!”

But then… I had a sudden thought that almost made me drop the razor that I was rinsing under the running water in the sink.  Out of nowhere I heard myself say… “You know Jim… You’re actually the one who doesn’t always react like ‘normal people’ do!  And… I had to laugh!  Because it was true!

In I Corinthians 13:11, The Apostle Paul explained to the church in Corinth, when they were experiencing some growing pains and the intermixing of some of the world’s ways with those of God’s, that:

“When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child. But the day came when I matured, and I (purposely) set aside my childish ways.”  (TPT) 

I can clearly remember three times in our lives when Piper and I purposely set aside our childish ways in order to step up into the place of maturity that we believed God wanted us to be.  The first was soon after our marriage when we had read some books that talked about the authority that we Christian believers have in Christ.  We decided at that early point in our marriage, that we wanted to step up and not only be at the game… but be playing on the first-string squad when it came to our Christian walk.

The next momentous time came when we received the first negative report on the results of Piper’s original three brain scans while out here in Oklahoma in 2007.  It was a pretty black and white… and easy decision to make.  I remember taking her hand that evening after I got home from work and us entering into heartfelt prayer fully acknowledging the fact that there was no scientific, medical cure for Piper’s situation and that we were openly and obediently putting ALL OF OUR TRUST in God and in the truth of His Word for her life.  His would be the final word on every decision we would make from that day forward.

The third time was actually made by me in the absence of my wife, when I felt the Lord directing me to make a move to Tennessee early last month, as I seek to fulfill His calling on my life in this new chapter and season of my life.  I am totally convinced that God is not done with me yet and am extremely excited to accomplish whatever it is that He has for me to do for Him!

I realized as I stood with razor in hand the other morning, that Piper’s and my decision and determination to put our trust wholly in the Lord… a decision made and set in-process before we returned to our hometown after Bible College… may have disturbed some of the homefolks.  As it turned out, many, if not most of the concerns, questions and suggestions that they made to us had already been considered months before we left Oklahoma.  Piper and I had made the decision that it was time to step up, or “man-up” as I like to put it… and either believe God and His Word or not.

And what we discovered along the way, was that the inner images of the promises of God in His Word that we were faithfully standing on… grew progressively bigger on the inside of us, than the fear, doubt and unbelief that others tended to see.

So… what can I say in my defense?  We were incredibly blessed along the entire path.  We had extreme favor with our medical teams, with approval of county, state and federal benefit programs and with just about anyone else we met along the way.  We got to buy and live in our dream home for almost five years, drive around the beauty of North Carolina in sweet ride that was both Piper’s and my delight, make many new friends in three different states and see and enjoy Piper as she lived out her life for a good five years longer than what medical science told us to expect… with lots of laughter and joy and the vivid witness of the grace of God all around us!

So… I guess I do think and respond a bit differently than a lot of the world around me… and you know what?  I’m glad for it!

How about YOU?

Have a terrific week ahead… and as you do, keep EXPECTING God’s best for your life! 

We’re looking at some Excessive Heat Warnings for the next few days… but I’ll take the heat and its accompanying breezes anytime over the cold, ice and snow!