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God got me up in the night and said, “Write the story!”
I said, “But Lord, I didn’t keep a diary like my wife and Rebecca! What do I write?”
“You lived it! I will show you!”
So obediently I went out to the computer and in about 5 -10 minutes all the words came flooding to me.... memories, happy and sad but memories... And that is all we have of Tedd now .... memories. But we knew him for about 7 years! It was a privilege! These are the memories that the Lord brought back to me. You may wonder why mourning was turning to dancing. The answer to this is the story of how God brought Scott, her present husband into her life.
It was the worst of times; it was the BEST of times!
It used to be mourning. Now mourning was turning to dancing!
With Tedd, it had been
quiet, wondering, admiring, watching, loving, engaging, marrying, learning, being happy, being joyful, being concerned, being sad, being mad, supporting, encouraging, praying, watching the tiredness, hearing the news, Hodgkins, Stage 3, hospital, intravenous, phone calls, trips to Detroit, joyful response, conquering disease, praising God, looking forward to the future, warm summers, happy days, getting to know him, many visits, meeting their friends, fall smells, apple cider, caramel apples, fall again!
Then it was November.
Sick again, lumps, doctor visits, phone calls, crisis calls, doctor visits, 45% chances, faith is the substance of things hoped for, new school, new classroom , new kids, new crises, preparation, blood storage, absolute zero, toxic chemotherapy, time off school, sitting and waiting, bone marrow killed off, new bone marrow, his own! It was remarkable recovery! Breaking hospital stay records, hope again, getting stronger, wearing masks, going to Best Buy, eating at Denny’s again, Detroit bagels and fragels!
100 days. July had come. It was CAT scan, all clear! Hope unfurled! Heart flags waving high! Praising God! Warm vacations, golf, driving ranges, trips to Massachusetts, beautiful fall colours! Happy days! Family pictures, Newport trips, beach walking, Newport shopping. Happy times! Cliff Walk Manor! Wonderful brunches!
Then it was November! My birthday month! My mother-in-law’s birthday month! Should be happy! Tedd was sick again. It was 10-15% chances, risky decisions, earnest prayers, good decisions, no more chemo! It was stronger and stronger! It was happy futures again! It was ministry-hunting, hopes raised, hopes dashed, answered prayers, Shiloh calling!
It was joy unspeakable and full of glory! Virginia had called. Tedd answered! It was happy times again! Moving time, Ann expecting, grandson coming, prophecies truth. Joy overflowing. Moving time! Pastor Mike, Cumberland Motel, house-hunting, unloading the truck! Popular Springs! Rural settings, country church, wonderful friendly people! Loving their youth pastor! Honoring his father-in-law!
Beautiful fall! Massachusetts calling! Canadian Thanksgiving! Family pictures, happy times.
Christmas was coming. Massachusetts Christmas, family again! Tedd sick, Ellen sick. Back home.
Bad news! Tedd getting worse. Pastor Mike fasting, many joining! 6:30 AM prayers, every day!
Getting worse! Finally March Break, extra week off. Virginia here we come! Tedd in bed!
Getting worse! God would heal, wouldn’t he? He had done so much before! So many little miracles! How about one big one, God? Angry at Satan, prayer at Duggans, encouraging strength, joy under sorrow!
Tedd had to quit ministering, too weak.
It was oxygen tanks and 24 hour recliners, rubbing legs, praying against fear, Vineyard CD’s, encouraging worship, wonderful messages, hope rekindled. Tedd still getting worse. Radiation! Day after day trips to Richmond. Slurpees, radiation, Wendy’s chicken, fries, fast food, trips home, Tedd’s asleep. Helping out of vans and into cars. Helping in and out of wheelchairs, helping bathroom visits, embarrassing but necessary.
Death by the July 4. PREACHED ON THE FIFTH! July 10.
Rodney Howard Brown! Only an hour away. Packing oxygen, helping into vans and into wheel chairs. Service almost ended! No prayer for healing! Cancer patient! Prayers. Someone else. Rushing Tedd to the front. Lazarus!! Why not another Lazarus! This was my beloved son in whom I was well pleased!
Nothing dramatic. Next day. Home to arrange pensions and building.
July 20. Doctor reporting. SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT! Hopes rising!! Phone call at 2:00 AM. I guess the Lord needed another drummer in his band! Tedd was home! Peace in Virginia. Sad but strong!
Packing quickly, thruway to Virginia. Why couldn’t they make 1 STRAIGHT ROAD?
Arrival evening. Johnson’s back. They just learned. Mary crying.
God we love you and trust you but couldn’t you have had just one more Lazarus?
Friday. Moving celebration service! Heaps of praise. Short life. But MEANINGFUL. COUNTED FOR GOD. Store up for yourself treasures in heaven! He had! Car washes, salvation, witnessing, building young people, praising people. Lifting spirits! Wonderful examples! Graveside. Rebecca’s prayers for youth. Keep his vision! God can do it! Not always the way we choose though!
He knows better! We feel worse. Joy inside! Sad outside.
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Jesus vision comes to Rebecca! Encouraging, lifting sprits! Promises waiting! Answering Scott, writing daily, phone calls, happy days, plane trips, meeting times. Love. God is good!
Joyful mourning!
JOYFUL MORNING!
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