Thinking about the Things that Matter
This morning I’m typing this actually in the afternoon in Copenhagen. It’s been a whirlwind week with a quick trip to Omaha for a family emergency, followed by one day at home, and then the overnight flight to Denmark for a conference. I’m weary … emotionally and physically.
Sometimes life is like that.
Last week, I hurried home to Nebraska Friday to be with my baby brother and his girls as he had to make some very hard decisions related to his wife. We prayed, and many of you joined us, for her complete healing, but that came in the form of her stepping into heaven on Sunday afternoon. It was way too early. She was only forty-one. But her body was worn out from a years-long battle with illness. That doesn’t make it any easier for us to say good-bye.
Eric and I have this commitment to living with no regrets. That means doing the inconvenient. Making the hard work of rearranging the calendars and showing up. That means that when the hard happens, we can look back and know that we did everything we could. We said everything we should have. And there are no regrets. I’d share photos of my sister-in-law, but being out of the country complicates everything.
This week I’m encouraging everyone to hug their kids. I’m enjoying every moment with mine and trying hard not to take for granted the moments I have with them. I’m also reminding myself and others that there is no timeline to grief. That this is part of the process.
So take a moment and let someone important to you know you love them today. We don’t do that often enough. Today’s a good day to do just that.
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I’m so very sorry for the huge loss in your family, Cara. I pray the Lord will comfort each one of you as only He can. Thank you for the reminder to live with no regrets. We can get so caught up in everyday tasks and let the most important things in life fall to the wayside, like the people we love. I don’t want to do that. Thanks again for the encouragement to make the main things the main things. Blessings to you and your family.
Praying for all your family as you grieve. And thanks for the reminder to show up for the people in our lives. I tend to get so focused on myself and think I will have time later for others. But I know that is not what is pleasing in the sight of God.
Praying for your family at such a difficult time, especially for one so young.
Thank you for sharing the commitment you and your husband made to each other, which is such a hopeful way to live. My husband was diagnosed to be in the early stages of dementia in January 2017. At that time he said, “I want to drive across country one more time, ” and we did. We were very much aware of what this medical journey meant and were determined to have no regrets. Fortunately, we felt blessed by all life had brought us – two children and two precious grandchildren at the top of the list. My husband was a Marine Corps officer when I met him, who went on to have many jobs after his twenty year retirement, culminating in a call to the ministry at the age of 60. He completed seminary at Duke University and served as a Methodist pastor for twelve years. Several times after his diagnosis he would say, “We had it all” or “We did it all.” He caught COVID in December, 2022, and went to his heavenly home at the end of January, 2023. Although it was so hard to lose him, I felt like God had spared him from experiencing the worst stages of dementia and blessed that we were married for 57 years. Your comment about grief is so true. My granddaughter came to me at the end of February this year saying she was still having a hard time grieving her granddad. I told her that grief is always there, but it changes as you remember all of the happy moments. I’m especially thinking of your brother and his girls at this time, and apologize for the length of this comment.
So very sorry for your loss, Cara. And as you said, there is no timeline for grief. It takes as long as it takes, and it is a little different for everyone and each situation.