Her Legacy Lives On

I recently lost my mother-in-law to cancer. Twice she had beat it with great beauty and poise. The third time, however, proved too much. She fought a good fight but in the end, the aggressive disease overcame her frailty.

Those of us left behind daily experience the soreness from the lonely void of losing someone dear. You see, Sheila--known affectionately to our family as Mimi--was someone whose life shone brightly against the dismal landscape of hardships. You could call her up at any given time for a dose of 'sunshine on a cloudy day'. In short, Mimi was our family's biggest cheerleader. After a visit or phone call, you stood a little taller and felt a bit more confident to tackle whatever obstacle was currently in front of you. In the book of Acts, we are introduced to a man known as 'Barnabus' which means 'Son of Encouragement'. There is much to be gleaned from the life of Barnabus in the scriptures and I encourage you to study this Godly man who accompanied Paul on the first (of many) missionary journeys. I picture Barnabus as a kind-hearted and gentle soul, universally liked by all. Perhaps Barnabus and Paul were such a fine team on those early trips because they were such opposites? Could it be that Barnabus softened the edges of Paul's intense forthrightness with his tender and generous affection?

Soften the edges...indeed that was what Mimi did as our family's Barnabus. She softened the blow of life's hardships by helping us see the silver lining. I honestly sometimes pictured her on the sidelines with her pom-poms held high, waving us on down the field towards the end zone. She constantly reminded us of who we could be. She believed in our potential and spoke it over us on a regular basis. You see, the word encouragement has the word 'courage' right in the middle of it. With her encouragement, she imparted courage. Courage to face the scary or hard. Here's the thing though, lest you think it was some kind of pep talk full of psychological-feel-good babble. Mimi's message was doused and lathered up in God's unconditional love. His love ignited and gave life to her words. There was a song some years ago by Toby Mac called 'Speak Life'.  Some of the words of that song include:

Lift your head a little higher
Spread the love like fire
Hope will fall like rain
When you speak life with the words you say
Raise your thoughts a little higher
Use your words to inspire
Joy will fall like rain when you speak life with the things you say

That's exactly what she did. She spoke love. She spoke life. And it rained down joy and hope no matter our circumstances.

Often it's time to enter a new season whether or not we feel equipped and ready. With Mimi's recent passing came a passing of the baton. Nothing would make her prouder than for those of us that knew her to carry on her cheerleading. It's our turn to take up those pom-poms and offer strength through words. It's time to take all that we've learned through her many years of support and fan it into flame for God's glory. I know if she were here, she would also gently remind us of a very important thing:  it wasn't actually her doing all that encouraging life-speak, but God in her. She was just the willing vessel.

God knows how clumsy and ill-timed we are. He knows the passing of the baton may not be smooth. In fact, we most likely will drop it a time of two. But are we willing to try? It's not the falling down but the getting back up and striving towards the finish line that matters.

Every time we choose to speak God's life-giving words to those around us, Mimi lives on. May we grab that baton and run the race that her legacy has called us to! I can see her proudly jumping up and down, waving us on from the sidelines, can't you?

Hindsight is 20/20 Vision

As we go into 2021, I wanted to post my thoughts on 2020 before laying the year to rest. It sure has been one for the books, hasn't it? Our family chooses 'One Word' at the beginning of each year. Now if you know me, you know I struggle to choose just one and often have to choose two or three. Not only that, often times a few other significant words filter in and out of my life as the months unfold. Last January, I chose the words 'Vision' and 'Joy'. As 2020 comes to a close, I can definitely attest to the phrase, 'hindsight is 20/20 Vision', can't you? Also, 'Joy' is a word that I had to cling to and remember on the daily in 2020--that joy is not based on circumstances.  True joy comes from our relationship with the Lord.  Some days I won on that front and some days I lost massively.  My emotions were up and down as long as I let them be driven by the ever-changing pandemic rules and the ever-changing news. Joy could only be maintained by focusing on the constant and non-changing 'Truth' of God's Word. Which brings me to the third word that God impressed upon my heart beginning in April: Truth. God's Truth is the foundation of all things. When absolute truth is questioned and taken down, chaos ensues. The only way to have 20/20 vision is through the lens of God's Truth, not the world's truth. 

Vision. Joy. Truth. The three words that themed up my year. So here is a poem and some thoughts that pretty much encapsulates my navigation through this crazy year and brings those three words together as I officially say good-bye to 2020. 

2020 VISION

2020 began with such hope and grandeur,

Many ushered it in with a roar,

Flashbacks of flappers with red lips and spark, 

Full of jazz and carefree to its core.

 

It was just getting started and finding its groove,

When the year came to a screeching full halt,

We ‘sheltered in place’ to help slow the spread,

Covid-19 began its assault.

 

With little facts known, we tuned in to the news, 

Searching for inklings of hope,

Yet report on report full of gloom and of doom,

Led to panic and fear in full-scope.

 

Schools were shut down, college kids were sent home,

Virtual learning became the new norm,

Sports seasons, proms, graduations annulled,

Full-paused to weather this storm.

 

‘Two weeks’ turned to months and while we sat in the wait,

You’d think things couldn’t get worse,

Racial tensions, burning and rioting occurred,

2020 seemed under a curse.

 

Governors created rules upon rules,

Trying to find an appropriate defense,

If I heard it once, I heard 1,000 times,

‘None of this makes any sense!’

 

Story upon story contradicting each other, 

Not knowing what’s fake and what’s fact, 

Everyone’s got an opinion to give,

A rebuttal for each rendered stat.

 

And if that’s not enough to contend with this season,

Throw in a contested election,

Half of the people believe they were cheated,

The other half find no objection.

 

Divisiveness, fighting, day in and day out,

No one wants to conform,

We yearn for some peace in these uneasy times,

A Savior to come and transform…

 

Unemployment, sickness and loss of loved ones, 

A sampling of what this year’s sown,

But perhaps the worst ache of all of these plights

Was having to do it alone.

If you find more than ever you’ve struggled this year,

To make sense of all the confusion,

If you’ve wrestled with fear, worry, sadness or doubt,

Or felt just a tad disillusioned.

 

My friend, I can tell you that you’re not alone,

I’ve been conflicted with all the above,  

Recall from Ephesians this battle we wage

Is not against flesh and blood.

 

From the day Christ was born there has been a great war,

A full-scale attack on the Truth,

The enemy masquerades as an angel of light, 

He lies with such polish and couth. 

 

As Christ’s return draweth near, as told in His Word,

Lawlessness will be on the rise, 

Lovers of pleasure and money and self,  

Exchanging God’s Truth for cheap lies.

 

Communism? Globalism? Is this for real?

Surely it’s just a bad dream?

The Great Reset? A New World Order? 

Is this a Left Behind Meme?

 

As I ponder these days I can’t help but believe,

His return is closer than ever,

In what is your hope? Comfort, status or health? 

To what do you find yourself tethered?

 

In what is your hope? Is it climate control?

In what is your false surety?

Is it government, stocks or your guns where you find 

A sense of security? 

 

I tend to get caught up in worldly events, 

Making or breaking my mood,

Yet gently I hear: ‘This is not your home!’

He reminds me: ‘You’re just passing through.’

 

He’s Overcome all the trouble you see, 

A Savior we call Prince of Peace

The Author of Truth, Hope and Love—fix your eyes!

In Jesus your striving can cease.

 

Do you hear Him? He’s calling! Return and Repent!

Wake up before it’s too late,

Your Father is calling His Prodigal home, 

With wide open arms He awaits! 

“You are a king then?” Pilate asked. “You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied, “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”  “What is truth?” said Pilate.  John 18:37-28

 

From a young age I was curious and investigated everything. My friends and I walked around with our notebooks, tape recorder and walkie-talkies, ‘spying’ and recording what was going on around us. I suppose I was the James O’Keefe of my time—LOL. I started out a journalism major in college but switched to accounting. I ended up working in public accounting, choosing to be an investigator of numbers rather than people and events. My first love has always been writing though. Including a letter or poem with our Christmas card has been an outlet for something I wish I did more of. So thank you for indulging me all of these years. Since I only get one opportunity every 365 days, I go full throttle and can be long winded; if you have read this much already, I thank you kindly.  Also, because this year has been extra dramatic, I have even more extra words than usual. So forgive me in advance . Anyway, back to my story.

 

When I became a mom, I retired from auditing numbers, but I never lost the love for digging and investigating. I don’t know if this is taught anymore, but I was always told growing up that there are no stupid questions. I have to say that the year of 2020 sure has been quite the year of unanswered questions. The questioning of journalistic stories that aren’t backed up with complete facts and stats have been met with a deafening silence. We are being asked to believe so many things that don’t make logical sense but we are not allowed to question it.  

 

I find this scripture so fitting for not only the current times in which we live, but the Christmas season. It reminds me that Jesus was born for THIS. He came into the world to testify to the Truth. The world’s response hasn’t changed in the thousands of years that have transpired since Pilate’s response. People are still wondering, ‘What is truth?’ 

 

As I have questioned much ‘truth’ being reported this year, I have struggled greatly. It has been difficult for me to submit to a narrative when I wonder about its validity. I don’t say this to be controversial. I say this to be truthful. I have sincerely had a hard time. 

 

As this scripture reads, Jesus was born into this world for one thing: to testify to the truth. The only thing that has kept me sane and at peace this year is clinging to the one truth that is Absolute—His Truth. Just as this scripture implies—His voice is Truth. He alone is trustworthy. This story is one I can completely validate from experience. I can testify through and through that He is my Prince of Peace and He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. As 2020 comes to a close, I encourage you to bring Him your questions. Dig for answers in His Word. It is the only God-breathed book that will bring Truth to your inmost being. He offers and gives a peace that this world can never give. 

 

In this world we will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

 

Sanctify them by the truth. Your Word is truth. John 17:17

 

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18