Good morning…
On January 2nd, my post “Thirty day lessons,” spoke of wisdom gleaned after facing the first days of extreme loss. Many of us resonated with the truth and forwarded the message on to loved ones groping through grief. I instantly thought of a friend who nearly lost her middle aged husband to a heart attack several months back, and I emailed her the post to let her know grateful I am that she and her kids had their husband and daddy this Christmas season.
She replied: “Thank you for reminding me how blessed I am to still have my wonderful husband in my life. We just got back from vacation, where I met this really nice lady from Austin, Texas. You know how it is when you meet someone and conversation is so easy and you feel there is a reason our beach chairs were next to each other? Her name is Kelly, and she has two college aged girls and a twelve year old girl and recently lost her husband to a heart attack while he was on a business trip. Same “widow maker” heart attack that my husband and so many men suffer from. This was her first Christmas without him and she was trying to be strong for her girls, especially the twelve year old. The rest of my family had been away on an all day fishing trip, so of course I was ready to read and enjoy some alone MOM time. I can honestly say I never read my book but feel there was a reason Kelly and I were put beside each other. I listened to her stories of what a great man, father, and the love of her life she had lost six months ago and could not bring myself to tell her I was lucky and that my wonderful love survived the “widow maker” heart attack. My family found us on the beach after their fishing trip and they got to meet my new friend Kelly then went to prepare all the tuna they caught for our dinner. Kelly and I ordered some cocktails, we watched the sunset, and I told her a little about my husband and family. Listening to her made me stop and feel grateful that I am not a widow. Perfect time for you to share the wonderful blog about losing a loved one. I am so happy to forward it to Kelly knowing she will enjoy your writings.”
Sometime our buns hit a beach chair and we expect one thing before God gives us much more. Sometimes comparison can actually breed gratitude. Sometimes we keep quiet so another can speak vulnerable truth and the LORD shows up by sunset to bond, heal, and bless.
I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all, Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NIV),
Sue
