September 30, 2017
The Keeper of His Children…
To my friends and family who now hold the hand of the one who first reached for their hand…walking with them in these days. You, my friends, are loving well!
A few years ago, I wrote, and told my story…I was given the gift of caring for my parents and, then, for my grandmother. It was a journey on which my husband and our children embarked, and I can honestly say, it was one of our greatest blessings to serve and to love them. Honestly, it changed the trajectory of our lives. While I do not know the details of your story, there are three things which I know will be true as, one day, you will tell or write your story of how you walked with, served, and loved well as you became The Keeper of His Children…The Keeper of the Child. And, He is writing your story…you see, the Keeper of the Child, one day, becomes the Child of the Keeper.
“Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you.” Isaiah 46:4
He is faithful to carry you…
I found myself feeling overwhelmed at times…crying out to God, “Who will help the keeper, who will help me?” The Great Almighty God heard my cries and saw my broken heart, and He provided for every need…He took care of every detail…and He carried and He saved…
When you tell your story, God’s faithfulness will be the headline because of who He is! Our Mighty God has a purpose for every breath that we take, for every moment that we live. He has numbered our days, He is sovereign, exercising supreme, permanent authority! Over every man, woman, child, parent, grandparent—in every stage of life, He is sovereign! He is faithful to care for those whom He has created. He will carry you and your loved ones. That is, and will be your story. He will carry you and save you and your loved ones. And you will tell your story…your Heavenly Father is faithful to see you through.
He fills your heart with laughter…
There were days when the challenge was so big, times when I could not lift the wheel chair to get it through the door, when we would drop to the ground, sinking into a puddle of laughter…because crying just didn’t seem to help! Instead, the tears rolled down our cheeks as we laughed…and laughed…and laughed, yes hysterically! “A cheerful, merry heart is good medicine…” Proverbs 17:22.
I know this will be part of your story as you look for reasons to giggle and to laugh, perhaps hysterically, because laughter is truly medicinal. When nothing else seems bright in the day, laughter provides the catalyst for courage, for compassion, defusing frustration and discouragement…And in your days, when exhaustion and weariness set in, laughter will be a vital part of your story. Let the tears flow! “And our mouths were filled with laughter; our tongues with songs for joy…”Psalm 126:2
He blesses those who love…
And, we were blessed beyond measure as we experienced life-changing moments with those whom we had loved for our life-times…Their lives becoming examples for us, as they walked in grace toward their home, and our hearts were comforted by our Father’s perfect peace.
My friends, as you live your story now, I pray you will experience and recognize the beauty and the blessing of what you are doing as you love and as you serve. I pray that you are strengthened and encouraged as you press on, never giving up on the privilege and gift of being the Keeper of His Child. I pray, that you grow in your belief and faith in your Mighty God. You, my friend, are a treasure as you walk with your loved one as far as you can…then, letting go of their hand, entrusting them to their Creator, the One who promised to care for them, and to carry them. He promises to take care of you, too. He promises to carry you, and to save you. This my dear friend, is your story too…
And the story continues…because He is still writing your story and mine…
Several years later, Bill and I invited his beautiful mom to come into our home and we had the honor and privilege of loving and serving her in the final months of her life…And, we once again, were the Keepers of His Child. Our loving Heavenly Father demonstrated His total faithfulness in each step, filling every day and night with His strength and His Grace, with tears of laughter as well as the tears of grief. But our home was filled with His love, overflowing and spilling over, and we were blessed…and forever changed, understanding more about the miracle of life, and the certainty of eternity with our God. You see, God uses every moment of our loved-ones’ lives, and every moment of our own…He uses every breath because after all, the breath of life was a gift from Him. You my friends, are a treasure.
“Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you.” Isaiah 46
I am praying for your abundant joy, laughter, and blessing as you love well,
