Until I See You Again – The Next Chapter

Thank you to mja, Shepherds staff, for writing today's blog.

And so it ends. Or more correctly said, a new chapter begins.

Eternity - no beginning and, what a glorious blessing, no end.

Can you even fathom that concept? What can you think of in this world in which we live that has no beginning? Everything and everyone started somewhere at some time. No thing on this earth has always been. And no thing on this earth will always be.

Eternity – I simply cannot wrap my mind around that concept.

Just a few months ago, Michael’s father passed into eternity. He now knows a joy that is so far beyond anything he could ever hope to experience on this earth. A beauty that is beyond the ability of his wildest imagination to conceive. The glory that is Heaven.

Michael, his son, remains here at Shepherds. Michael has his father’s portrait, a beautiful memory of his last visit with his father. Sweet memories of his father’s love and the precious time they spent together.

Can you take just a moment to imagine with me what it might be like some day when Michael joins his father in Heaven? I would like to think that Jesus Christ would come over to Michael’s father and whisper in his ear, “He’s coming! Your son Michael is on his way!” What joy and anticipation as he waits at Heaven’s gate, anxiously looking out over the distance to spot his son.

I wonder if Michael’s father will recognize his son? Michael, no longer walking haltingly toward his father, hindered by this life’s difficulties, but racing toward him with the ease of a practiced long distance runner, quickly closing the gap between them, his arms reaching out to greet his father. Michael, with the biggest smile on his face, and words that he had been unable to say all of his life suddenly spilling out of his heart. Michael, his son, now so different, now whole, now perfect. And an eternity to spend together.

And so it begins.

The Best Part of My Day

Thank you to mja, Shepherds staff, for writing today's blog.

 

The best part of my work day does not happen on chilly days. It does not happen on rainy days. Nor does it happen on wintry, stormy days.

But it does happen on beautiful, sunny, pleasant days. Those days when I just can’t spend another minute inside. I just have to get out and enjoy the sunshine and gaze at the beauty around me. The green of the trees, the beautiful colors of the flowers, the flag fluttering in the breeze, the smell of freshly mown grass, the sunshine warming the back of my neck.

The best part of my work day is my lunchtime walk – I love it! But the reason I love it is not just because it is a beautiful day to be outside for a few minutes. On the days when I go for my lunchtime walk and never see another person to talk to, that is not the best part of my day, although it is certainly relaxing and enjoyable.

No, the best part of my day is on those days when I walk around the Shepherds campus

and meet and talk with our clients who are doing the same. Dan, Jeff, Andrew, and Keith – the regular lunch time bicyclers; Steve, Stevie, Robin – the sometimes lawn chair jockeys (who I love to join for a few moments in the shade); the walkers – Jo, Gary, Gayle, Tony, Brian, Doug, Ray, Gail; and sometimes even the volunteers who are working on the grounds. And especially today – the sunshine serenade from the swing set, your choice of patriotic selections!

 

Greeting friends and sharing a lunchtime walk – yes, that is the best part of my day! 

 

 

To learn more about Shepherds Ministries, please visit www.shepherdsministries.org.www.shepherdsministries.org.

I Just Need to be Alone

Thank you to mja, Shepherds staff, for writing today's blog.

Sometimes we just need to be alone – to listen to the quiet, to feel our own heartbeat, to hear our own breathing, to let the world just stop for a few moments while we listen for God’s quiet voice in the silence.

So much busyness in the day, the noise of work going on all around us, the chatter of friends, doors opening and closing, footsteps in the hallway . . .

Where is the silence?

This morning one of our residents came to my office, nearly in tears. His sister passed away very recently, and he is planning his first trip home to see his family since her passing. He poured out his soul to me, telling me how hard it is to get over losing her, how he can’t stop crying; he just doesn’t know how to deal with this. He needed to be alone – just to cry.

Yesterday another one of our residents, also dealing with the death of a family member, came by to tell me it had been one year since his mother’s passing. He was happy to think that his mother is in Heaven ‘having a fun time, and probably rocking her two little babies.” What a sweet vision he must have in his mind when he thinks of his mother in Heaven. A picture of a precious mother’s love. A picture that the other gentleman who was here today does not yet see through the pain of his grief.

It takes time to heal a broken heart, and often it takes silence and being alone, letting the grief wash over us, letting the tears flow, and letting the arms of Jesus enfold us, and hold us so close that it no longer hurts.

Grieving – sometimes it is hard to find a place. Lord, help me to make a welcoming space for those whose hearts are hurting. Help me to always turn an understanding ear, and with patience and love . . .  listen.


To learn more about Shepherds Ministries, please visit www.shepherdsministries.org.