Ninety-nine years is a long time! On Monday, my mother reached that milestone. How blessed we are to have had her for this length of time. I often think of her teaching in my life. I probably could come up with a list of 99, but I'd like to share 11 instead (like the candles on her cake each represented 9).
By example she taught me:
To work...I remember cleaning bathrooms at home every Saturday...what was my first job when I went away to school? You guessed it!
To have a daily quiet time with the Lord before the day's activities begin
To drive a car
To care about others, especially those who are in difficult circumstances
To share hugs
To celebrate "God sightings", the little things He does for us
To recognize a godly man...she introduced me to Hu
To be faithful to my husband
To make Chrismons, Christ centered decorations, which has been our tradition for many years
To give flowers while people are living
To love my children, their spouses and grandchildren
I am thankful for her godly example!
Hu visited his pulmonologist this week. She said he is coming along well. If he didn't feel well when he went to see her, he surely felt better coming out. She is very upbeat and encouraging. He has recently resumed in-home physical therapy because he felt he had not been progressing enough. His new therapist challenges him with creative exercises and "a new bag of tricks" to help him heal and restore strength.
In addition, he is blessed with a great aide and nurse, both of whom are good encouragers and aid in recovery just by their pleasant attitudes. Hu continues to faithfully pursue the exercises and recommendations of these medical folks on a daily basis. Please pray with us that he will be able to breathe easier, and also that sitting will become more comfortable for him. His wound combined with little (flesh) cushioning makes that difficult. We thank the Lord for the continued healing that Hu has experienced and look forward to what He has for him in the coming months.
Set your heart not
on riches, but on goodness, Christ-likeness, faith, love, patience and
humility. Fight the worthwhile battle of the faith, keep your grip on
that life eternal to which you have been called, and to which you boldly
professed your loyalty before many witnesses. 1 Tim. 6:11a, 12 (Phillips)
Sherril, please give your mother a birthday (late) hug from me! I have such fond memories of time spent with her as a babe in Christ! She was such an encouragement and blessing to me.
ReplyDeleteAnd, as I read your post, I remembered you teaching me (by example) many of those same things you learned from your mother. Thank you for being such a dear friend, encourager and blessing to me as a young Christian in a foreign land. I am forever grateful to you and Hu for taking me in as a member of your young family and providing shelter, food and love!