the twists and turns

You know, I am always amazed at the way life tends to work itself out. I never know what the next day (or really, the next MOMENT) will really bring my way. I really didn’t think that I would be sitting here in my parents’ kitchen typing on my lappy on a Tuesday night in the middle of August – but here I am.

Here I am indeed, after a whirlwind trip back up north. Mom had surgery today to deal with some craziness in the form of cysts and masses in her uterine area. While I know that she is in good Hands, while I was able to support and encourage her, the family, friends, and concerned people with that knowledge, and while I believe wholeheartedly that everything would work out for Glory and good ... right now I’m in a place to actually reflect back on the what-ifs.

What if the cysts were more than benign?

What if the fibrous tumors were cancerous?

What if I had to say goodbye or know that I would have to soon?

What if Dad were left alone after all these years?

What if, what if ...

Unsettling to say the least. Scary to be more honest. I love my Mom. She’s a pretty amazing, incredible woman. It would be wretchedly hard to be parted from her now, even if that parting were only so very, very brief in the grand scheme of eternity.

But I guess those words ring even truer to me in this moment:

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about
those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of
men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died
and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring
with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

Sorrow mixed with joy. Ironic. And yet I am so grateful in this moment that God has allowed this world to be blessed by Mom for even one more day to come.

And I am hopeful for many more than that.