It’s been a while since I posted, as I try hard to share not my words, but God’s. Sometimes the process is easy and the words flow out with very little effort and always with God’s direction. When I put off reading His word and fail to communicate with Him in prayer as I should, the words refuse to flow. The weight of responsibility sometimes puts us through periods of doubt… until God, in His wisdom, sends a re-enforcing miracle that lifts us to the heights of glory and gives us just a glimpse of what heaven must be like.
The last few weeks have been trying in so many ways, but today I have a story to tell that hopefully will lift our hearts and set in stone the truth of God’s love and how He cares for those who love and follow Him. It’s a life story, and it’s a love story.
Over twenty years ago, my sister, Joan, came to live with my husband and me. Her marriage had failed and her job had ended, and she needed a new place to call home. I was delighted to have her and my husband welcomed her as well. Joan’s dream had always been to get married and have kids, but that didn’t work out. There were plenty of men in her life, but not one willing to share the most important part of her life… her faith in God.
I watched as she met man after man and each one promised her the life she wanted, but never followed through. Each one found a reason to end the relationship: She was too religious. By the time she did find a husband she was past her child-bearing years and settled for much less than she deserved. He deserted her and now she had come to live with us. My kids became like her kids and my grand kids her greatest delight. In the meantime though, another man came into her life and once again. she was in love.
His name was Ray. Once again, she made plans…but life had other plans. Ray’s ex-wife was diagnosed with cancer and given probably a year to live. He felt he had to go back and see her through this. He couldn’t let her face it by herself. Like before, Joan was alone, but due to her faith in God, was able to carry on.
As the years passed, her health began to fail and arthritis took away her ability to fully function on her own. I became her caretaker and did my best to take care of her. Later on she needed a pacemaker and glaucoma had dimmed her sight. Our lives were full of doctor visits and pharmacy refills. She had gotten herself a laptop and kept in touch with family and friends on Facebook. It has not been easy, but we have managed. Her arthritis is better and she is back to doing a few activities she enjoys.
In the last several years my husband and I have had a few health issues of our own and I realized recently after an issue with my knee: I am not going to be able to continue taking Joan to her doctor visits and everything else I do for her forever. If my own health fails we all will fail.
A couple of weeks ago, Joan mentioned that she had found her old friend, Ray, on the computer and found out that he was living in Kentucky. Last weekend she told me that she wrote him a letter and they had talked on the phone. He was as excited as she was to have discovered each other again. His previous wife had lived not one year, but eight years, before losing her battle with cancer. He had assumed by then that Joan had probably moved on and married someone else. He had retired and moved back home to Kentucky.
Long story short, she told him about her health issues and he brushed them aside. She told him, “If you want me, come and get me.” Two days later he got in his truck and did just that! Yesterday morning they left together for Kentucky with plans to get married and make up for the last twenty years! I have never seen her as happy and excited about anything. During their time apart, Ray has become a Christian and is fairly active in his church. He said they had both put their lives on hold way too long and I am over-the-moon happy for both of them! I wish them both the best and many years of living, laughing and loving.
Last night, as I was taking it all in, I realized: I may never see her again, but just knowing she is happy and finally had her dreams come true is more than enough. We should all feel this way when we see a loved one or fellow Christian passing from this life! I thanked God at that moment for just a brief glimpse of what heaven must be like: seeing your dreams come true and starting a whole new life! The greatest part of this story is their age. Joan is 78 and Ray is 80 years old. It truly is never too late for love!
I opened my Bible this morning and was blessed again by the words of Isaiah 12: 1-5 And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee. 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid: For the Lord is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. 3 Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto the Lord; for he has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth.