Good Morning,
I just want to take a moment and thank those of you who have sent cards and phoned regarding the passing of LaVon's mother. Your thoughtfulness is special to us. THANKS!
I was reading this morning and this was just too close to home, but I felt I should share. I almost left, but God pressed upon me to stay. WOW! Thank You, God.
Does Your Family Know You Love Them?
By Jim Burns
He will turn the hearts of the fathers [and mothers] to their children; and the hearts of the children to their fathers [and mothers]; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse. Malachi 4:6
My mother had been very sick with cancer. We knew she was going to die. Over the months of her sickness, my mom and I had some very special talks about life, God, and our family. My emotions were often raw. I would laugh harder and cry harder than I ever had before.
My mom’s body was shutting down. It was only a matter of time. Almost every day, I would find the time out of the busyness of life to sit with her, since she was confined to her hospice-care bed. That July, I was struggling with the idea of having to leave my mom’s bedside to go and speak to 6,000 students in Colorado at an international denominational youth event.
The day before I was to leave, my mom seemed to be doing better than she had for many weeks. She told me, “Go and speak to the kids, and I will be right here when you get back.” Hesitantly, I decided she was right. As I left the room she called out to me in a very weak voice, “Jimmy, I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
I left for Colorado and spoke to the students. After the evening event at the conference, I came back to my hotel room, and there was a message to call my wife. Cathy told me that my mom had died.
I was crushed that I had not been there with her. After a restless night of thoughts, tears, and prayers, I left for the airport, and then it dawned on me. The last words my mother ever said to me were, “I love you, Jimmy.” The last words I ever said to her were “I love you too, Mom.” What a blessing!
How is your relationship with your family? Is there an atmosphere of love and warmth, or is there some hostility? Whatever your relationship is like with your family, the biblical mandate is to be loving and supportive. God’s vehicle for faith and love is often the family. Who do you need to say, “I love you” to today?
My mom’s body was shutting down. It was only a matter of time. Almost every day, I would find the time out of the busyness of life to sit with her, since she was confined to her hospice-care bed. That July, I was struggling with the idea of having to leave my mom’s bedside to go and speak to 6,000 students in Colorado at an international denominational youth event.
The day before I was to leave, my mom seemed to be doing better than she had for many weeks. She told me, “Go and speak to the kids, and I will be right here when you get back.” Hesitantly, I decided she was right. As I left the room she called out to me in a very weak voice, “Jimmy, I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
I left for Colorado and spoke to the students. After the evening event at the conference, I came back to my hotel room, and there was a message to call my wife. Cathy told me that my mom had died.
I was crushed that I had not been there with her. After a restless night of thoughts, tears, and prayers, I left for the airport, and then it dawned on me. The last words my mother ever said to me were, “I love you, Jimmy.” The last words I ever said to her were “I love you too, Mom.” What a blessing!
How is your relationship with your family? Is there an atmosphere of love and warmth, or is there some hostility? Whatever your relationship is like with your family, the biblical mandate is to be loving and supportive. God’s vehicle for faith and love is often the family. Who do you need to say, “I love you” to today?
LaVon and I are truly thankful to God for each of you. Thank you for your continual support and interest in our ministry by investing yourself in many ways as partners with us: by prayer, e-mails, phone calls and your financial gifts. Without any of these we could not continue what God has called us to do and that is to share the living water with the world through the RV ministry.
Have a great day, love you, pass it on.
Don
1 comment:
I love you, Bro. Don. And I love you, too, Sis.
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