Moments of Joy and Moments of Sorrow

Today we had a lovely women's breakfast at Glen Oaks Senior Center. There were 14 of us and although the scheduled speaker was unable to attend due to illness in her family, we had some wonderful testimonies and a look into the life of a young lady who is trying to follow God's leading in her life. After a few years of struggle, she finally realized that God wanted her to be a teacher. She's a good one and God knew that from the beginning. Janel and her son, Clayton, attend our church and she sings in our choir. She just graduated from college and is teaching challenged children during summer school. We are so proud of her accomplishments and her desire to follow God's leading.

Pastor Steve officiated at the funeral for one of our parishoners this week. Drew Stephens, who formerly played the organ for Park Place Free Methodist, unexpectedly passed away. Dianne, his wife, is one of our faithful pianist. Drew was only 67 yrs. old. It brought sorrow to our hearts, for we had just had the organ repaired and were so looking forward to hearing Drew play for the first time. We regret not having time to get to know Drew better.

Tuesday we were privileged to visit my brother and his family and celebrate his 50th birthday! Wow! How time flies. Seems like yesterday I was leading him along the fence row showing him the neighbor's bull! LOL! He was barely old enough to walk and I was about 5 years older than he. Mom and Dad always said I was trying to feed him to the bull, but I really wasn't. I was just being a big sister sharing an experience with her little brother.

Kesha, my nephew's wife, delivered our second great nephew on Wednesday this week. Jadyn Garret Abney weighed in at 9 lb 1 oz and 20 1/4 inches long. He had a little trouble at first for he suffered a collasped lung. They realized something was wrong when he wasn't crying "right." He is in the ICU for babies at St. Vincent's Women's Center and doing better. Hopefully he will get to come home tomorrow. His older brother, Corban, 5 yrs old, is anxiously awaiting his arrival home.

Moments of joy, moments of sorrow...Isn't God wonderful to measure out a little of both so that we can cope with life more easily. The moments of joy boost our spirits and build us up so that when the moments of sorrow come along we do not sink in dispair. Great is our God! How merciful, how giving, how loving, how understanding, and how glad I am that he is my Lord. I do not know how people make it through life without a personal relationship with God.

My parents are visiting this week. Mom will turn 71 on Tuesday so a little celebration is in order. It is a joy to have my parents still among the living. Time flies by so fast, I cherish every moment I can with them. And, although I tell Mom, since we are so close in age, we are also growing older together. That brings a little sadness to my heart. I wanted to be able to care well for her in her elderly years, but we suffer from some of the same afflictions, and at my age that is not good news. They are expected at her age, not at mine. This may bring a few anxious moments to the mix of joyful and sorrowful moments! The good news is that my heavenly Father knows all about it, and we live one moment at a time, one day at a time. His grace always seems to supply the strength when we need it most.

Moments of sadness, moments of gladness...the roller coaster of life, carrying us on a wonderful journey of memory making. Hope you have a few good memories to cherish today.