Visitors, Apple and Coke

This week we were privileged to have two 'cousins' from Holland visiting with us for 8 days. Our great-grandfathers were cousins, originating from the fishing village of Elburg. We have formed a strong bond of friendship and spiritual unity with Hanneke and Amanda over the years, as we visited back and forth with their families. Ever since it was known that I was diagnosed with ALS, they have been following my journey via Facebook, email, and our blog. "We just had to come to cry with you", they said. And we did. They are 'kindred spirits'.

We have been touring Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls, St. Jacobs Farmers Market, Cora's, The Mandarin, etc. I call them my 'equipment managers', getting my walker and wheelchair in and out of the car. They have helped me make the transition from walker to wheelchair with loving support, dignity and grace. "Are you OK with that?", they asked. "Yeah, I'm OK with that", I replied. It's another step on the journey - step by step. Family and friends are a huge encouragement helping me on the way, but I know that eventually the path will become single file. Then we need to walk alone with the Master, or more accurately be carried by Him. (Psalm 77:19)

Steven Jobs, the creator of the Apple iPod, iPhone, iPad, and the MacBook, died this week from pancreatic cancer. Jobs has exchanged time for eternity. He was a genius, a very successful businessman, had an almost cultic following, and was a practicing Buddhist. Apple is worth about $350 billion on Wall Street, and is the most known brand name on the globe, even surpassing Coca-Cola. Jobs talked about how a sense of his mortality was a major driver behind the vision of producing an excellent product that the world wanted to buy. “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life,” Jobs said during a Stanford commencement ceremony in 2005. “Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

There is a lot of truth and value in what Jobs said about focussing on what is important in life, and that his impending death helped him to make the 'big choices'. But Jobs erred in 'following his heart' rather than following God and His holy Word. He tried to obtain peace in his heart through self-denial and self-improvement, but we know from experience that true peace can only come from being reconciled to a holy, righteous God through faith in His Son. Spending quality time with family, friends, and Church folk is a priority in life, but to be washed in the blood of the Lamb is the number one priority. "How much money is enough?" someone asked billionaire John D.Rockefeller one day. "Just a little bit more", was his famous answer. Success, fame and fortune can never fill the God-sized hole we all have in our heart. It can only be filled by Him, and then it overflows with love to others.

The Great Shepherd Will Guide You

Let us remember this as we look forward to the days yet to come: We know not what our days may be - bright or dark, many or few - but we know that we are in the hands of Him who does all things well.  He will not err in any of His dealings with us. He will take away and give - He will move and He will settle - with perfect wisdom, at the right time, in the right way.  The great Shepherd of the sheep makes no mistakes.  He leads every lamb of His flock by the right way to the city of habitation.  ~ J.C. Ryle

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Wherefore hast Thou afflicted Thy servant? (Numbers 11:11)
Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try our faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. Guilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord's faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father's countenance is hidden. A faith which can say, in the direst trouble, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him," is heaven-born faith. The Lord afflicts His servants to glorify Himself, for He is greatly glorified in the graces of His people, which are His own handiwork. When "tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope," the Lord is honoured by these growing virtues. We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the winepress; nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor feel the warmth of fire if the coals were not utterly consumed. The wisdom and power of the great Workman are discovered by the trials through which His vessels of mercy are permitted to pass. Present afflictions tend also to heighten future joy. There must be shades in the picture to bring out the beauty of the lights. Could we be so supremely blessed in heaven, if we had not known the curse of sin and the sorrow of earth? Will not peace be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after toil? Will not the recollection of past sufferings enhance the bliss of the glorified? There are many other comfortable answers to the question with which we opened our brief meditation, let us muse upon it all day long.  ~ C.H. Spurgeon

A Letter From A Little Sister..

Big brothers are special...and I am blessed to have two of them!  They provide strength, support, encouragement, advice, protection and always lots of love.

Jack is my big brother and has always provided the best for me.  I remember growing up with him by my side and always sticking up for me :). Now my brother is dying of ALS and a part of me is dying with him.  

I am truly blessed and honored to say he is a beacon of hope and an example of brotherly love not only to me but to my children and all of those who know and love him.  

When I look at my daughter Madison and how she looks to her brothers for love, support and guidance I hope and pray that my boys can provide for her what my brother does and has done for me.

My brother may be dying but his brotherly love and faithfulness will live forever in my heart.  Romans 12:10.

I love you Jack,
Your little sis
~ Joanne

Thoughts and Pictures from Joni

This Saturday we were able to share a fried turkey dinner with the whole family.  Getting a deep fryer for a turkey (as my Dad already wrote about) is one of the many spontaneous and creative ideas that my Dad is famous for.  He is always coming up with fun things that we should do, places to visit, things to try... and he doesn't just talk about them, he makes it happen!  We gathered for an afternoon of relaxed family time at my sisters beautiful property and enjoyed a typical Saturday afternoon - and yet since the ALS diagnosis, not so typical anymore. 

Life is different now.  It has taken on new meaning, and family gatherings have a new significance.  I usually take pictures (a lot of pictures!) of our family times, but of the 500 or so I usually take, I normally delete many of them.  I can't do that anymore!  Looking through pictures of my dad with the family, even blurry ones or ones that didnt turn out quite right, I just can't get rid of them! I want to hold on to these memories forever. 

I know that looking back on the slides (does that date me???) and the pictures of our childhood, we remember the things we have a photo of.  I want our children, especially the young ones, to remember times with Opa.  What's hard is to capture a natural interaction between our children and Dad...the fact that he is dying, is always right there in the forefront of our minds.

We have been blessed with wonderful parents. We have a Mom and a Dad that love the Lord, love each other and love us.  We didnt need Disney vacations or fancy clothes or dinners at restaurants - we had a home full of love and fun; we had security and safety and grew up knowing who we were, why we were here on this earth and where we were going.  This is the most precious gift you could ever give your children.  Garage sale clothes, vacations in a borrowed pop up trailer, and lots of laughter and loving - what more could we ask for!

My Dad is so interesting to be around - taking a nature hike becomes a lesson in God's amazing design in creation, an impromptu visit becomes a chance to slice up some cheese and pull out the best wine - no saving anything for later - that day's visit is reason enough for celebration to him.

Here is a peek into our Saturday get together...

 

Ten grandchildren!

Still able to laugh... nice 'stache Dad!

We were able to get a picture of Mom and Dad with each of their grandchildren. A picture I think each of them will cherish years down the road.

Lena (12)

Titus (10)

Elijah (8)

Jack (7)

Ethan (5)

Benjamin (4)

Maya (3)

Aliya (3)

Ella (3)

and Roman! (1)

I love how Maya's holding on to Dad's hands here.   

  

Benjamin has always had a special relationship with his Opa.  All the grandkids love their Opa so much, but Benjamin turns to Opa as easily as he turns to his own Dad.  On Saturday he got hurt on the trampoline and made a beeline to Opa for comfort...the fact that Opa uses a walker, makes no difference to him; his hugs are still the same.

The love that our church and school community has showered on my Dad and also on all of the rest of the family, has been such a blessing.  It's an amazing feeling to know that your Dad, who you love and esteem so highly, is also valued by so many other people.  I love hearing the stories people tell of fun times with my Dad or ways in which he has touched their lives in a meaningful way.  Thank you for your love and support.  Thank you for sending meals and visits to my parents.  Thank you for talking to us kids at church and at school and saying that you are thinking and praying for us too!  We have amazing friends and a solid church family that is wrapping us up in prayers and love and it is making this journey so much easier for us all.  This is how the world can know that we love Christ - that we show love for one another - what a powerful witness!  (John 13:35)

Love you dad,

Joni