What can you say?...

This has been a very tough week for my sister and her family. Mel's father-in-law was diagnosed with a inoperable brain tumor several months ago and finally had to enter hospice care a couple months ago near their home. She and her husband took their kids to see their grandpa as often as possible. After several various turns for the worse, he passed away last Friday with Mel singing the hymn, Abide With Me.

Her husband is a wizard with woodworking and made a beautiful wooden box for his dad's ashes. A final gift for his dear father.

So the funeral was yesterday. We weren't able to attend. Their pastor gave a wonderful sermon and it was a very fitting message for a christian man, who now is in heaven with no cares or pain to worry about.

This morning I got an email from Mel with new news. Their pastor who had done the service yesterday died last night because a weak heart that he'd always had. Left behind is his wife and 5 children, one of which is less than a year old. He was only 38 years old.

Since my dad is still in the hospital due to his new knee, the pastors wife asked that he come down to the emergency room to be with her and the kids. I didn't realize how truly loved he was by the pastor and his wife. They had named their baby's middle name after him! That really made me tear up. God had Dad in the hospital to bring comfort to her during this time! Coincidence? I don't think so.

You know... I knew her father-in-law some, but not well. He had lived with them for a few years quite a while ago, and I only saw him rarely. But her pastor's death came as quite a shock for me this morning. He was just a young godly man with a quirky sense of humor. I can only imagine how his family is handling this. His eldest daughter is only 16 or 17 and is friends with my son.

I wish I lived closer sometimes so I could be more supportive for Melanie. And during all this, her eldest son (13) is having a respiratory illness that only seems to get worse.

This week's events just threw me for a loop. What would happen if I became a widow suddenly? How could I raise the kids without their dad?

These things in our lives that really make our hearts ache are a test to strengthen our faith. How will we handle them? Will we place our trust in earthly solutions alone or lean on God's love and put our trust in Him?

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit: O what needless pain we bear -
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged - Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness - Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge - Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He'll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there.

As a child, going to a church school, we had to memorize hymns along with Bible verses each week. At the time, I didn't understand why the fuss... but my mom explained to me. When you're old and can't see the hymnbook and maybe have lost your mind... those old hymns and verses will stick and you can hum them to yourself and it will give you peace. When you're in trouble and need comfort, you will remember some verse or hymn line to think about that will give you the comfort you need. Mom was right after all.