my father-in-law without his teeth - i'm glad we got to celebtate christmas together!
Monday, August 3, 2009
last christmas
my father-in-law without his teeth - i'm glad we got to celebtate christmas together!
A different kind of goodbye
It's been a weird week yet again. In the midst of debriefings and short term teams and saying good bye to two interns, David's mom called us at 5 am last Wednesday with the news that David's Dad had passed away that night. In spite of his age (he would have turned 82 this year) and his health, which hadn't been good lately, it was still somewhat unexpected. We did know that he probably didn't have much longer here on earth but then you never do know. And he always regained his strength quickly, no matter how sick he had been.
The next day passed in a whirlwind as we got David booked onto a flight to Mongolia (his parents moved there two years ago) and arranged for a visa and prepared as much as possible for the time that David would be away. I often thought "why is this happening now?" when we have so much to do. But then death is never convenient and you can rarely plan ahead for times like these.
I'm glad that David got to go to say farewell to his Dad and to be with his mom and sister at this time. And I'm thankful that the boys really cooperated well for the most part and that we still have two interns with us who have been supportive and able to help me.
What really hit me is to see the way we respond to death and the way the people around us respond to it. Our friends at the travel agency, when booking the flight, were really sad for us and did their utmost to help us get a good connection and to make it possible for David to fly. Slowly, the relationships we have been building here over the years are paying off in a sense and we feel at home. Others don't know how to respond and so they change the subject or kind of not say anything. And it struck me just how hopeless they are and how much hope we have because of Christ, who is the ressurrection and life.
I have really appreciated the simple faith and trust that my parents-in-law have displayed in their lives in every circumstance. They have (and still are) lived in close communion with the Father and my father-in-law would often get up early in the morning and pray for the many people he knew and for all that was happening around the world. He was a real prayer warrior, daily lifting us up in prayer, too. He walked closely with Jesus and just trusted God to provide for everything and to take care of every need. They have both been an example to me in many ways and I am thankful to have known him. He lived a very rich life and leaves behind a legacy of faith that I hope to pass on to the boys.
Both he and my mother-in-law were really longing for Christ's return and I can just see him wandering along the streets of gold, wearing his crown, taking it all in and loving every minute of being with the God he loved and lived for. To see all the glory and to finally have reached his home.
We will miss him and this kind of loss is always hard to deal with. But we know that all is well, we know that he is with Jesus and that we will see him there when Jesus calls us home.
And that is the hope, the assurance we have that carries us through times like these.
The next day passed in a whirlwind as we got David booked onto a flight to Mongolia (his parents moved there two years ago) and arranged for a visa and prepared as much as possible for the time that David would be away. I often thought "why is this happening now?" when we have so much to do. But then death is never convenient and you can rarely plan ahead for times like these.
I'm glad that David got to go to say farewell to his Dad and to be with his mom and sister at this time. And I'm thankful that the boys really cooperated well for the most part and that we still have two interns with us who have been supportive and able to help me.
What really hit me is to see the way we respond to death and the way the people around us respond to it. Our friends at the travel agency, when booking the flight, were really sad for us and did their utmost to help us get a good connection and to make it possible for David to fly. Slowly, the relationships we have been building here over the years are paying off in a sense and we feel at home. Others don't know how to respond and so they change the subject or kind of not say anything. And it struck me just how hopeless they are and how much hope we have because of Christ, who is the ressurrection and life.
I have really appreciated the simple faith and trust that my parents-in-law have displayed in their lives in every circumstance. They have (and still are) lived in close communion with the Father and my father-in-law would often get up early in the morning and pray for the many people he knew and for all that was happening around the world. He was a real prayer warrior, daily lifting us up in prayer, too. He walked closely with Jesus and just trusted God to provide for everything and to take care of every need. They have both been an example to me in many ways and I am thankful to have known him. He lived a very rich life and leaves behind a legacy of faith that I hope to pass on to the boys.
Both he and my mother-in-law were really longing for Christ's return and I can just see him wandering along the streets of gold, wearing his crown, taking it all in and loving every minute of being with the God he loved and lived for. To see all the glory and to finally have reached his home.
We will miss him and this kind of loss is always hard to deal with. But we know that all is well, we know that he is with Jesus and that we will see him there when Jesus calls us home.
And that is the hope, the assurance we have that carries us through times like these.
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