Stacy
Give thanks to the Lord, for He
is good; His love endures forever
(Psalm 107, v. 1).
Each of you has has added to the fullness of my life, and I’m thankful for you. For years I tried to write notes on the Thanksgiving photo cards we send; this year I didn’t.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell
their story
(v. 2a). If I seem overwhelmed at times, it could be that I’m
basically trying to keep mental tabs on this enlarging family
circle. He blessed them, and their numbers greatly
increased
(v. 38). From July 28, 2022 to July 11, 2023 we added 5 members to
our family by birth or marriage and moved my parents five minutes from our back door.
Their lives ebbed away
(v. 5). A few years ago, I
knew nothing about dementia. In 2021 Dad was diagnosed with vascular dementia. This year
Lewy Body Dementia and Alzheimer’s were added to the diagnosis. The losses are occurring
at a stunning rate. Dad requires constant supervision due to his extreme confusion
combined with his mobility. At my urging, John designed a wonderful motion detector with
six seconds of quiet beeps to alert Grandma Pam or night-time caregivers when Dad silently
gets out of bed. I’m surprised to find that nearly everyone has a family member suffering
with some form of dementia. It’s been a gradual pre-grieving for my father’s death.
Then they cried to the Lord in
their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed
them; He rescued them from the grave
(vv. 19–20). Though the world is in
turmoil and our bodies are decaying, I’m comforted in my soul that God is sovereignly
working. He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good
things
(v. 9).
Let them give thanks to the Lord
for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind
(v. 8). I’m at a
stage of life where simple pleasures bring the deepest joys: cuddling or playing with a
grandbaby, walking to my parents’ home and helping them in some small way, snuggling up to
Bob in the middle of the night when I’m having trouble sleeping, hearing what’s on the
hearts and minds of my family, and watching the life-cycle of monarchs on Mom’s giant
milkweeds.
As we joyfully attended five weddings this year and grieved a few divorces among friends, the following books, some with opposing viewpoints, have led to valuable discussions:
- Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God's Grand Story by Christopher Yuan calls believers to live like a family whether single or married. He reminds us that marriage isn’t the end goal; being with the Lord eternally is.
- Happily EVEN After: Let God Redeem Your Marriage by Dannah Gresh speaks to women trying to recover from a marriage that’s been rocked by infidelity, pornography or otherwise.
- Every Man’s Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time by Stephen Arterburn & Fred Stoeker offers practical and Biblical applications.
- Preparing Your Son for Every Man’s Battle: Honest Conversations About Sexual Integrity by Stephen Arterburn & Fred Stoeker is what the title says.
- Sex 180: The Next Revolution by Chip Ingram & Tim Walker rebuts common culture and sets a higher standard for mixed gender relationships.
- Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married by Gary Chapman provides some laughs while covering practical topics to which lovebirds may gloss over before the wedding and stumble on afterward.
- She Deserves Better: Raising Girls to Resist Toxic Teachings on Sex, Self & Speaking Up by Sheila Wray Gregoire, Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach, and Joanna Sawatsky minces no words pointing out all the faults the authors witnessed growing up. It does offer great advice on how women could be smarter in protecting themselves in dating and avoiding disastrous marriages. The authors hate the concept of modesty and set a very low bar, in my opinion.
Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving
deeds of the Lord
(v. 43).