When I returned from New York following my Father’s homegoing, I had several boxes and photo albums (just a start) to go through. I decided on the arduous task of scanning most of them so that I could give a CD to my brother and sister, mom and Christine. Needless to say it has consumed a great deal of my evenings. Additionally, I have been working on trying to get the apartment finished. I promised Matt I would post some photos and I know I still need to do that.
Going through childhood photos after the death of one of your parents brings back so many floods of memories. It’s been so good to remember how things were, and so many stories have come to my mind during this process. Some I look at and have no idea who the people are in the photo, and others I can remember the moment with perfect clarity. I have shed a few tears along the way — it’s funny how a photo can evoke an emotion so quickly. One thing I can say though. My life growing up was not dull. We did not have much, but my experiences as a child were so rich in other ways. I learned so many things from my parents just by watching them. I firmly believe that my father walked in supernatural faith most of his life. The Lord just brought weird provisions to my family. Our needs were always met, and often in unusual ways. Looking back now I see it, but during the time I did not often recognize it. It continues even now, as Chris has shared examples of provision still occurring. The Lord is good and He promises to meet our needs. This truth I have learned and seen in action so many times in my life. I remember my father quoting the familiar Bible passage about how even the sparrows do not worry because the Lord takes care of them, so how much more will He take care of each of us.
And He really does. I received a card from my mom the other day for my 38th birthday. There was a little thought to meditate attached to the front of it. It reads, “Lord, I have too much to do, but it’s all important. Help me to set priorities so that I don’t feel lost in the pace and the pressure. Give me the wisdom and energy to accomplish what is necessary without wasting time or effort. And help me make the best use of my day, remembering that time is a precious gift from You.” It is so easy to go through a day and waste so much time… I often consider how if I knew it was my last day, what would I say? How would I treat people? Where would I go? What loose ends would I tidy up? There are a bunch of questions I think I could come up with but I do know that I want to finish well. However it ends, I want to be doing what the Lord called me to do, and I want to be happy doing it, and I want to be right with my God, my friends and my family.
Today I was again reminded of one of my favorite verses in the Bible … “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3. That’s the place I want to live.
Nice post Josh, I was just going through family photos lastnight! Such good memories!
its is funny when we go thru the pictures and remember all the fun times at your house with the picnics and the creek and never knowing what to find at your house with your dad always picking up something and bringing ti back to the house..now that everything (photo) is on the computer we do not have the fun of going thru the boxes to see the memories.. i will have to go thru ours also since i was the official photographer at the time which is now passed to you and shawn as you both have the eye for it .. your dad always had a good word to say and we always enjoyed our time we spent with him , your mom and your guys . i love the picture of him and me on the front steps of our log cabin with the helmets on and crossed old wooden golf clubs. i think we were trying to warriors of the jedi warriors … and with shawn holding his fingers up in the back of our heads , always makes me laugh and to think that both your dad and myself had this picture each up in our offices ..