God works in crazy ways, and we will never understand why He does things.
I have a friend, Jon, a wonderful man that I worked with for 4 years. He taught me a lot, gave me a chance, when no one else wanted to. He stood by me when he could have walked away, and probably had good reason to. He always believed in me and encouraged me.
About 6 months or so ago he came down with pancreatic cancer. He’s young. In his 40’s, a set of twins that are in 6th grade.
I was worried for his health. But most of all, I worried about his salvation. Today I walked to his wife. He’s reading the bible. He’s praying with his kids, he’s going to church. And you know, I am sad that he’s going to leave this earth, someday. But I rejoice in knowing that his kids will come to know the Lord, they will have a God who will wrap them up, hold them up, and comfort them, and who has given His life so that one day, they will all meet again in heaven. I ‘m thankful that one day my friend, who is in pain now, who sees the awfulness of the world will bask in paradise, and one day I will join him.
I have a second Gramma, my friend Erica’s gramma, who’s body is filled with cancer. Her liver is failing. I rejoice in the fact that her body will soon be healed. That her life has been lived in Christ. I have great memories of Gramma Joanie and stuffed peppers and breaded pork chops after catechism that I attended with Erica because Gramma Joanie wanted Erica to go. I hated catechism, but I loved going to Erica’s gram’s house for dinner. I loved her, and I knew she loved me.
Erica is scared that her Gram is going to leave. I can understand it. I want her to have peace. God gave us Gramma Joanie to teach us how great God is. She made she we went to church on Sundays (little did she know most days that we would walk in the vestibule, grab the vigil, and walk out. But sometimes we went).
I have peace about both of these wonderful people who have been in my life. I have peace that God is using that awful sickness to bring His sheep back to Him. God can use bad for good. He has the ultimate power. I will miss them both when they go to be with Jesus. But to be honest, I am a little jealous that they get to see Him first! But Lord- I’m not ready yet!
I trust in His timing, I rely on His promises, I wait for His answers, I believe in His miracles, I rejoice in His goodness, and I relax in His presence.
Proverbs 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
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