Today we are enabled by Christ to experience both sadness and joy
June 20, 2007 (Wednesday) – I received word this morning that my brother-in-law, Clarence Walston, the husband of Wanda’s sister, Ann, passed away just before sunrise today. The funeral will probably be held on Friday, in Groesbeck. Ann and I had agreed beforehand that I would do the service. Please pray for her and her family. He has been bedridden for nine months, and Ann has been with him constantly, caring for him.
Yesterday was the best day this family has had in a long time. Dianna was told by her surgeon that no cancer cells were present in the tissues removed through surgery.
She celebrated by taking the family out to a nice restaurant for lunch. She discovered afterwards that she is still recovering from major surgery, got very tired, and spent the rest of the day in bed. Hopefrully, she will feel stronger today.
Mark will have the bandages removed from his hand and arm this afternoon. I’m not sure, but I think only his finger will remain in a cast or splint after his session with the orthopedist.
Good news for a patient is a two-edged sword, because it reminds those who are sick that they have not had that good news. (Just today, we got the message that Wanda’s Grand Niece has found lumps in her breasts. Her mother and grandmother both had breast cancer.) When you are in that situation, you rejoice with those who rejoice, but you still must deal with different and difficult circumstances.
I have come to believe that we can have peace within as we pray, no matter what the situation is, because we’ve learned to trust the Lord. As the song by Andre Crouch says, “Through it all I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God, I’ve learned to depend upon the Lord.” Paul, in the midst of suffering, said, ” I have learned to be content no matter what” (Philippians 4:11). He followed the example of his Savior, and modeled the Christian lifestyle for all of us.
Every day we are reminded, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).