Keep Running…

He contemplates a word he will never understand
He contemplates a word he will never understand

Sunday, 31 July, 2016

Just before the sun rose on this day four long and quick years ago, the last unknown action of a growing brain tumor was finally known as my boy seized in the wooden crib of his baby years under the waning moon.

We should not have had even six months, and yet somehow, we’ve had four years.

They have been long and full of shadows and anger, but also precious with more joys than we deserve.

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And as the shadows lengthen into longer life than we’d ever have dreamed, and we persist in this atypical life and it’s challenges, the words of Matt Papa have been close to my heart.

Lord I’m tired…

So tired from traveling

This straight and narrow is so much harder than I thought.

And on this path I’ve met both doubt and pain and I’ve heard their voices say ‘Yeah, you’ve given all you got.’

But there’s a cloud of witnesses – the ones who’ve run this race – and even louder than my fears, they’re crying: ‘Warrior, lift your face!

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And keep running, keep running, don’t lose heart, and don’t you give up now.

Don’t turn around.

You’ve got to find a way somehow to keep reaching; keep fighting.

The pain cannot compare to the reward that will be yours; that waits in store for those who just keep running.’

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Don’t turn aside…

No compromise…

Just lift your eyes to the glory that’s coming.

If you’re like me, you feel like you can’t go on, you’ll never see the dawn and you’re just about to break.

But don’t stop now.

Know that every sacrifice will all be worth the price when you finally see His face…

Just keep running…

Moment by moment.

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Five Years

Five years later…

My Dearest Husband,
As we pledged our lives to one another, we never could have known what was ahead. I know that these first five years are only a small dip into the well of blessing that the Lord has for us. As I write, I am reminded of the words we sang that day:

“Thine own great presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.”

In joyful anticipation of growing closer every year…

Love,
Your Wife

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