I struggle with not wanting to blog when I can't find the funny in me. It's just not there right now. Many people I love are hurting, sick, grieving, or wounded. As Little Sissy said, "My eyes keep getting sparkly." It's true. My heart is heavy, and I find myself whispering prayers in any given quiet moment.
One of the reasons is that my childhood pastor went to be with the Lord on Monday. I can't say that I remember any of his sermons, but I remember his life, his ministry, his passion for holiness. I remember that he came to the hospital to pray with me when I got my tonsils out. I couldn't believe he thought I was important enough for that. After all, I was only 11. I remember him calling special prayer for my sister, who had serious health problems as a child that went undiagnosed for a long time. I remember the way he honored his wife and made her seem like a queen. Pastoring is so much more than delivering sermons. It's a lifestyle--shepherding people.
There are other people who shepherd people without it being their vocation. My dad and my grandpa are 2 of those people. My grandpa is not doing well, and that is the main reason my eyes keep getting sparkly. I love that man so much. I love how He loves his family and is so proud of all of us. I love how he points every conversation to God's goodness and faithfulness. I love how he never complains even when he's in so much pain. I love how he is so manly and yet so unafraid to display emotion. I love how he has loved Grandma for all of these years even through some very difficult times. He is ready to go home. My prayers are that he will be able to do that surrounded by family, with no pain, and that it would be a sweet reunion with his Savior. My other prayer is that my dad, who is on a missions trip to China, Burma, and Bangladesh, can get home quickly to be with him.
No one is perfect. I know. But there are some people who set the bar pretty high. I am thankful for such a legacy, and I want to live my life in such a way that the people in my life feel shepherded. pastored. loved. cherished. like I have.
5 comments:
So beautifully said. Seems like were losing a lot of the "great" ones lately. I sometimes wonder where those young men and women are who are going to step up and take the mantle. You're right. The bar has been set high.
Sorry. Should be "we're."
You made my eyes sparkly again... and it's interesting that we both chose the same background on our blogs... guess we're feeling cold and wintry in our hearts right now. Love you!
I know that fear that sets in when we know we're soon to lose someone we love. Our eyes are almost constantly sparkly. It's comforting to see how God has used them in big ways. He will continue to through people like you.
Thanks for sharing, Christy.
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