Two decades

Twenty years ago today my firstborn arrived into this world.  I knew I would name her Dorothee after my mom if she was a girl.  And she was.  As I looked through her photo album today, I was reminded of all the blessings I had been given.   Looking on myself the day she was born, I don't remember being so young.  But I was.

I tried to recall that day today, twenty years later, and was unexpected by the overwhelming emotion that flowed out of me.  Twenty years.  I mean what usually happens in twenty years.  If you are blessed, you are married for twenty years.  But I do not remember feeling this emotional on my 20th wedding anniversary.  Maybe it was because Mark was right there with me celebrating and I could not look on my daughter and celebrate with her.  Maybe it was because her celebrating twenty years and my celebrating twenty years looks so different.  I am only beginning to understand why my mother smiles so much when she sees me again.  It is that dear, dear child that is once again sharing her life.  

The pain hit me hard.  Those first contractions.  Never a feeling I have ever felt, or would ever forget.  After a couple of hours, I realized those pains were not going away until the she arrived.  I was forever grateful to labor room nurses.  At all my deliveries, with tears streaming out of my eyes, I thanked those nurses.  They all knew what to do, always knew how to calm me.  And Mark.  Enduring the yells, the puking, the crazed pleadings.  Always reassuring.  Telling me I had no choice but to do this.  There was no turning back.  

Lord, this post is not turning out how I had anticipated, but I am no writer.  I am beginning to see that.  I have lots of thoughts, but they never get organized.  I thank You, for the gift you gave me twenty years ago.  Thanks for the memories I have, of raising her, spending time with her, being loved by her, watching her grow and  change.  Thanks for what You have done, and allowing me to take part in what You continue to do.  I do not know what tomorrow brings.  But You do.  You are already there.  Help me to trust You to do everything You have said You would do.  Help me to be faithful to my husband and all my children.  Guide me Great Redeemer.  I am weak, but You are mighty.  Hold me with your powerful hand.  Bread of Heaven, feed me now and evermore!  Amen.

For all the Saints

I usually do not go on FB first thing in the morning.  This morning, however, I got an email that said Dorothee had posted to my wall.  I had been missing her a lot lately, so I was relishing in contact with her and did check what she had posted.  Then I was reading some other posts and I came across Pastor Hulke's Thought for the Day.  Here is what he wrote.

Thought for the Day: "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 Jn. 5:13). Welcome to All Saints Day! We all know people who are living with Jesus in heaven. Through their faith in Jesus they have received exactly what He promised - eternal life in heaven. On this day we remember those who are safe with the Lord and find great comfort in His promise of eternal life. But it's important for us to remember that this is our promise too through faith in Jesus. The promise of heaven is not something we wonder about and won't know until we die. It's a sure promise we live in every day of our lives through faith in Jesus Christ. Take time to remember those who are with Jesus, and celebrate that this promise is yours . One day, some day, we'll all be together again.

I was reminded of one of my all time favorite hymns, "For All the Saints" and back in my childhood days, this was sung every Sunday we celebrated All Saints Day.  And you can bet my father made sure we sang all the verses.  This morning, I found a recording of For All the Saints on You Tube.  Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGo6_D-RTXA  I got out the LSB and sang all eight verses of it, remembering all those whom I have loved that are now in heaven rejoicing with Jesus.  I always cry when I sing that hymn!  I cry because I miss those saints I knew, but I also cry with joy because I know, someday, I am going to be in heaven too!  I also was remembering my old church in Chappaqua and all the dear saints that attended there.  I actually found a picture of the church on FB,  Here it is:


16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Amen!  Come, Lord Jesus!!!