Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Due-due or just doo-doo

Well, it is open season on believers and Satan is armed to the fang. So many around me are being attacked and I hurt for them as I watch marriages fail, children taken, parents taken, cancer ravaging, livlihoods tanking and so much more. I just received word of another friend being stricken with an illness. I started the day with a bit of the warm fuzzies (thanks Addie) and frankly, I don't want to drop them. But news of anguish can crack that fragile condition. Just the same, as a mutual friend and I discussed the health concerns of others I still felt confident despite all the despair.

"Look," I said. "You and I both have watched this disease win too many times in our families. This time, we are due. You are due and I am due and together we are due-due. If you are buckling under the strain, I will be more than happy to remind you that you are due-due." As for me, people remind me pretty often that I am due-due but I'm not sure they use the same spelling.

It was a heartening exchange, but the fact is there is no disease or condition that can truly beat us when our hope is founded in Jesus.

We recently recognized a very bittersweet anniversary in our family. My wife's dad passed away two years ago, July 31. He was an amazing larger-than-life man who was loved by all who knew him. As cancer ravaged his body, many of these friends urged him to seek non-conventional method of treatment to save his life. When urging failed they insisted. Finally he stopped much of this when he said:

"All my life I have been trying to be on the team getting into Heaven. Well, here I am about to punch it into the end-zone and everybody who should be blocking for me is trying to tackle me instead."

What a great testament to the hope and assurance he had. I hope I can approach whatever comes my way with the same confidence and good nature. Until then, I am due-due.

2 Comments:

Blogger Brandon Scott Thomas said...

what a great post, Val. So true. Due Due.

Wednesday, August 18, 2004 4:08:00 PM  
Blogger RPorche said...

Thanks for your words, Val. I've heard you share about your Father-in-law's words several times, but it's such a blessing every time. I'm with you in prayer--thanks for being an anchor for so many people.

Thursday, August 19, 2004 6:03:00 PM  

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