Sunday, November 05, 2006

Sorrow and hope

As Kate's surgery draws closer, I am feeling more and more emotion. I've cried many times in my life, but not many where I've wept. This morning was the latter. God reminded me that Kate and I are "one" and when one part of the body is hurt, the whole body suffers.

He also reminded me that His strength is made perfect in our weakness and that perfect love (His love) casts aside fear. Finally, he encouraged me that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

At church this morning I thought of the story of Jesus and his dear friend Lazarus. When Jesus arrived at Lazarus' house, he had been dead for several days. It is interesting that Jesus stood outside the room where Lazarus' body was and wept before going in to bring him back to life. I thought to myself, why in the world did Jesus weep? Jesus is the Lord of Heaven and Earth and could easily raise Lazarus from the dead. It struck me then that I think Jesus wept because Lazarus was his friend and he knew that human sickness and death (results of a broken, sinful world) was not what God orginally intended for us but is why he came to earth (righteousness & the cross). I think the situation encouraged Jesus to accomplish his mission.

God used Lazarus' trial to demonstrate His glory and as a testimony of His grace for generations to come.

May it be so with our family as well.

Dave

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dave and Kate,
Your school community is having a time of prayer for you on Tues. morning at 8:25, right after morning drop off. Young children are not only welcome but encouraged to come and witness their parents in prayer. Any friends from outside the school are welcome as well. If you would like to come we would be honored to pray for you, but if you already have plans for a quiet family morning, just know that we will be on our knees on your behalf. Your family is so precious to us.
Love,
Kim Vander Velde

Anonymous said...

Hi Kate,
hey sis I just wanted you to know that we are all praying for you. I really cant come close to imagining what you must be feeling right now. All I know is that God made you special and that it is all in His hands right now. We here in Clinton/Leeton and vicinity all wish that we could be of greater help so if there is anything we can do please let us know.
Love
AJ,Melissa, Joey and Boo

PS Thanksgiving was always my favorite too

Anonymous said...

Hi Stuart, it's Aunt Dee Dee. I'll be hanging out with you in the afternoons until Mommy gets better. You'll be with Grandma in the morning--so please make a mess in your diaper in the mornings before Dee Dee gets there. Grandma will take good care of you, making sure that you eat well and take a good nap. When you wake from your nap, I'll be there, and together we'll play ball outside and read books and wait for Carter and Cole to get home, and then all four of us will play and talk about what we learned that day--what made us happy and what made us sad or mad--and we'll make get-well cards for Mom. And then we'll eat dinner and talk about the things that we're thankful for, just like you do with mom and dad at the table. After dinner, I'll help Carter write sentences--longer sentences since he likes to write short ones. And I'll help Cole with his spelling words--the words are getting harder--and make sure he reads for over 20 minutes in his kid's bible. When I put you down for bed, I'll make sure to give you a snack--cheerios and yogurt--and then if gramdma's back I'll make sure she changes your diaper. Aftering turning on your sound conditioner and pulling the shades, I'll read to you and then pray with you and sing that song that you like to sing "thank you jesus..." And when I put you down for bed, I'll rub your back and tell you goodnight.

Anonymous said...

Oh my dear friend, I have been praying for you for days now. You are an amazing creation made in the perfect image of our heavenly father. Know you and your family are truly bathed in prayer and your needs are constantly before the throne. Your prayer warrior and sister in Christ,
Lisa Kelley

Ramona Wicht said...

Dave and Kate-
Wade and I enjoyed sharing and laughing with you this evening. I will do my best to find that rodeo clown and send him to your home for hours of good, clean fun. Wouldn't the boys be delighted!

We continue to pray for strength, peace, wisdom, effective & efficient planning before surgery, good rest and countless tender moments.

Our hearts are with you.
In Christ,
Ramona

Anonymous said...

Dear Dave and Kate,

My heart has been crying out to God for you since hearing of this trial. I know that our recent trial pales in comparison (Marissa recently spent 4 days at Children's with Staph Scalded Skin Syndrome), but I wanted to share it with you as another example of God's faithfulness. During a couple of nights at the hospital her pain was sooo great, and she had been given all the drugs they could at the moment. I cried out to God to ease her suffering, and HE answered. The God of the Universe cares for you and Dave deeply, the body of Christ surrounding you will cry out for you on Tuesday and the days following and God WILL COMFORT you and your family.

Praying for you,
Cinda Lee (and Steven, too)

Anonymous said...

Kate: This is Helen, your neighbor. I just read your blogspot. What a wonderful way to keep everyone in touch with what is going on!

I'm on board with you to help (but NOT housecleaning--you wouldn't want that from me anyway)!

Your family has enriched our little circle (on Eaglebrooke Ct.) since you moved in.

I'm marking 4:10 p.m. on Tuesday in my memory. I will spend some time with you and your support group in my own "quiet" way--joining their prayers with my intentions.

P.S. If you write any more on your blog, use a larger font. Some of the tiny font was difficult to read. Dave's font is perfect.

Helen