Date-driven remembrances

It’s been a year since I wrote this post about Mom’s death. Since that time much has happened in our lives. We’ve celebrated birthdays and births, most notably Dad’s 90th birthday party and Caleb’s birth in August and his baptism, both celebrated Sunday. On one day we celebrated promises made for a new life for Caleb and the promises kept for the past 90 years for Dad, and pray expectantly for more. In the same week we’ll look back again and praise God again for His promises kept for Mom.

We look at the people who have filled our lives, and the celebrations of Mom’s life last year and Dad’s birthday this year were very good opportunities to meet once again those people who have played and continue to play roles in their lives. Dad continues to thrive, primarily because of the steadfast love of God manifested in the prayers and support of his friends and family. I am constantly amazed at the support and friendship shown by the people from Bethel Baptist in Fruitport, demonstrating just what Christ’s love should look like in action.

As we celebrated Caleb’s baptism with their church family at LaGrave Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids I was amazed again at the outpouring of God’s love and support manifested through that church family. If just a fraction of the people who answered the question “Will you, as the church family, encourage and support this family as they raise Caleb” with a resounding “We will, God helping us!” actually have a part in his life, he’ll have it made.

That’s not to say there won’t be issues. Dad is 90 after all, and there are issues growing older. Caleb is a newborn, and there are just as many or more issues growing up in our ever-changing world. The rest of us? We’re all in between, from four to sixty four, each with our own concerns every day, whether school, work, family or health related. It’s just great to know that we serve a God of steadfast love, whose mercies are new every day, and that we are part of local church communities who act out that love on a daily basis.

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” (Psalm 115:1 ESV)

 

Thank you all for your prayers.

 

1 comment

  1. Great thoughts on the church body. Having that church home, where believers can care for and lift up each other, is so important.

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