Peace in the Valley

Early in the morning on May 18, 2011,  three years ago this past Sunday,  my second son Jeff came through my bedroom door with these words: "Mom, Doug died in the night!"  I have re-lived the shock of that moment countless times.  We had known for a short time that the cancer that began to work its way through oldest son Doug's body five years before had ravaged every vital organ except his heart. The oncologist told him he might have six months to live. He had only two weeks.  My husband and our firstborn son left for Heaven within eleven months of each other.  My memories frequently go back to those five years when there were just the three of us:  Ted, little Doug and me.

Memorial Day, birthdays, Home going anniversaries,  photographs, remaining family gatherings and just about everything bring up pain that cannot be shared by anyone but Jesus.  He cried at the tomb of Lazarus even though He knew He would raise this four-days-dead man to live on earth again. He WEPT ...and He weeps with us. If we attempt to stifle our grieving it will surface in destructive ways.  Read the Psalms to be reassured that expressing the full gamut of emotions is encouraged by our Lord.  I Thessalonians 4:13, 14 give us God's comfort through the pain we suffer when our loved ones leave:  "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him."  ...a Ted'ism:  "When you read my obituary, don't you believe for a minute that I have died.  I will have just begun to live!"

I mentioned last week that a water pipe split in the downstairs bathroom causing damage that required cutting out walls and discarding carpet and some furniture. Son-in-law Brent brought Tony, Doug's foreman and good friend to take charge of repairing the ugly damage. I trust and love Tony.

Doug Stone was a tough, but deep inside him, a tender man. He had been in terrible pain, telling no one. His strength, endurance and refusal to face pain is what made him a champion wrestler.  ...an NCAA All American, featured in the Hall of Fame at Humboldt State College.  One afternoon Doug gathered up boxes of his trophies, took them out into the country and shot them all to pieces.  A young man of few words, this is what he said:  "I am not going to be an old guy who has nothing to talk about except his college glory days."  Son, you simply jumped the gun on what you and the rest of us are going to do when we lay this world's trophies at Jesus' feet. The scholarship that was set up at your Memorial in your name went to a high school wrestler whose dad died a couple of years before you did. This boy's grandparents have since come to know Christ.  Their granddaughter who lives with them has come to know Him, and she has been instrumental in her boyfriend's coming to Christ. God's ways are beyond all human comprehension.

Remember the night you requested that old Gospel song, "There'll be Peace in the Valley"  at a Singalong at Country Oaks Church?  Well,  son Doug,  today, in your honor on the third anniversary of your Homegoing,  I played and we sang your favorite Gospel song in a Sunday School class.

                              "THERE'LL BE PEACE IN THE VALLEY"

I am tired and weary but I must roll on 'til the Lord comes to call me away
Where the morning is bright and the Lamb is the Light
And the night is as fair as the day.

There the flowers will be blooming and the grass will be green
And the skies will be clear and serene
The sun ever shines, giving one endless beam and no clouds there will ever be seen.

THERE'LL BE PEACE IN THE VALLEY FOR ME SOME DAY
THERE'LL BE PEACE IN THE VALLEY FOR ME I PRAY
NO MORE SORROW AND SADNESS OR TROUBLE WILL BE
THERE'LL BE PEACE IN THE VALLEY FOR ME.

"For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made PEACE through the blood of His cross, through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in Heaven.". Colossians 1:19 and 20.

Love, Jo