welcome to ministry
this week has been one of those "welcome to ministry" weeks. it seems as if there are certain events/times/whatever that one "truly" gets introduced into ministry--sometimes they are wonderful and beautiful like when i was honored to baptize a little guy on Easter morning. more often it/they are the moments that sear with pain and confusion or insane business.
yesterday was a very emotional day. this week has been a heavy one.
a wonderful and beautiful man passed away on Sunday, we'd been waiting for him to let go for some time. he was also a man of devout and inspiring faith so while it was sad to lose it, it wasn't a horrible shock to the system. he had a long and good life filled with faith and love. i hope to die like that too. his wife has been amazing and strong--she is an inspiration. her faith is immense and beautiful to see.
this week begun with a mix of sorrow and inspiration. then my grandfather had a stroke. my grandfather who chewed on Swisher Sweets because my grandma didn't like the smell and the smoke. i can still see his big smile as he teased me and my friends with one of his cigars in hand. he was a tall man so his knees and legs were crunched up in his hospital bed.
for many years of my life i saw and hugged him every day. i'm sorry my kids won't have that with their grandparents. but for the past 23 years i've hardly seen him at all. my kids have met him all of two times that they can remember, one of which was just a day ago. i was scared to go see him because it had been so long, probably 6 years or so. but his smile was enormous and his eyes shown with love.
a woman who i love and adore, whose mother just passed away a few weeks ago, is probably soon to meet her mom. her battle (for she has most certainly battled) with cancer is coming to an end.
the good news has been that i have the honor of baptizing a gorgeous little guy on Sunday. funeral on Friday, baptism on Sunday. and now probably a funeral on Monday, and another will be quick to follow.
my grandfather died in his sleep this morning. yesterday he was facing the decision as to whether or not he would have feeding tubes placed in his body or to die. it's really quite wonderful that he was able to pass quietly in his sleep (though i do have questions about how quiet that might really be) and he did not have to suffer and starve to death--which is truly an awful way to go.
so this is my week, yet another intro to ministry moment(s).
peace be with you Grandpa, i love you and am thankful i got to see you and see that smile of yours once again. i love you.
yesterday was a very emotional day. this week has been a heavy one.
a wonderful and beautiful man passed away on Sunday, we'd been waiting for him to let go for some time. he was also a man of devout and inspiring faith so while it was sad to lose it, it wasn't a horrible shock to the system. he had a long and good life filled with faith and love. i hope to die like that too. his wife has been amazing and strong--she is an inspiration. her faith is immense and beautiful to see.
this week begun with a mix of sorrow and inspiration. then my grandfather had a stroke. my grandfather who chewed on Swisher Sweets because my grandma didn't like the smell and the smoke. i can still see his big smile as he teased me and my friends with one of his cigars in hand. he was a tall man so his knees and legs were crunched up in his hospital bed.
for many years of my life i saw and hugged him every day. i'm sorry my kids won't have that with their grandparents. but for the past 23 years i've hardly seen him at all. my kids have met him all of two times that they can remember, one of which was just a day ago. i was scared to go see him because it had been so long, probably 6 years or so. but his smile was enormous and his eyes shown with love.
a woman who i love and adore, whose mother just passed away a few weeks ago, is probably soon to meet her mom. her battle (for she has most certainly battled) with cancer is coming to an end.
the good news has been that i have the honor of baptizing a gorgeous little guy on Sunday. funeral on Friday, baptism on Sunday. and now probably a funeral on Monday, and another will be quick to follow.
my grandfather died in his sleep this morning. yesterday he was facing the decision as to whether or not he would have feeding tubes placed in his body or to die. it's really quite wonderful that he was able to pass quietly in his sleep (though i do have questions about how quiet that might really be) and he did not have to suffer and starve to death--which is truly an awful way to go.
so this is my week, yet another intro to ministry moment(s).
peace be with you Grandpa, i love you and am thankful i got to see you and see that smile of yours once again. i love you.
Comments
and more prayers for all those moments of ministry that keep us going, that challenge us, that drain us, and give us life.
More love with those prayers, too.