Reunited

After 48 ½ years on this earth I know to look both ways when crossing the road.  I know you shouldn’t stick things in electrical outlets.  I know better than to argue with a small child, because I’m not going to win.  Sorry to say I have learned these things by trial and error.  No…I haven’t been run over because I didn’t look both ways, but almost!  As I was driving on my way to work I reminisced about life.  If things were different, what would I be doing today?  I would be boarding a cruise to Alaska!  We made plans, Danny and I did for our 30^th wedding anniversary.  June 30^th 1984 we said I do and through many ups and downs we celebrated 28 years together.  I still celebrate the years God gave us and I am sure I always will.  Even as I move on with my life the important dates still come and go.  Birthdays, anniversaries, new jobs, kids birthdays, and then later cancer diagnosis, surgery dates, chemo, radiation, the day hospice was called in and the day he died;  All dates no one should have to go through.  But we do.  Seems like we go through everything, life, death, grief…we can’t skip any part of it, we actually have to go through to get through.  And we do…we get through it.  But just like the little things we learn in life about crossing the road, the things that keep us safe, we also learn other things in life and death.  The most important thing I have learned with the time God has given me is to trust him.  It isn’t easy, but it’s worth it!  The other thing I have learned is to learn to love and cherish the ones God has given us!

We aren’t perfect, none of us are.  We all have our faults and our little habits that probably drive the one we love and the one that loves us most crazy!  But we accept it and dig a little deeper.  That one that God has given you is special in so many ways.  I think of my mom and dad who shared 70 years together and I think of how many ups and downs they must’ve faced.  When they married in 1940 and when they passed in 2010 they weren’t the same two people.  Life happened.  12 kids happened.  They struggled through job loss, death of parents, death of children; no one stays the same after that!  Thank God Danny and I didn’t experience the death of a child, but we mourned my parents and I thank God that he was there for me during that time.  The fact of life is that when we change in our marriage whether it be illness, grief…whatever it is…you change to help your spouse, that’s what we do.  We adapt.  Sometimes that means we have to do things we might not ordinarily do but because we love…we do!

1 John 3:18 (NIV)

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

We forgive when we think we can’t or shouldn’t…because Christ forgave us and does every day.  We mess up, we ask forgiveness and He gives it!  Daily!

I wish in life that you could see what I see.  That little disagreements, even big disagreements, they don’t matter.  If you are willing to forgive, love will find a way.  Love will take you over!  If you can remember why you fell in love you can find a way past the hurdles and road blocks.  They are all just trials that make your relationships stronger.  After 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, 50 years, and 70 years you look back on the hard times, those times that maybe you didn’t like your spouse very much but deep down you did love them and eventually you find each other again but you have to persevere!

The greatest thing God gave us is each other.  Respect it.  Love it.  Forgive it and love it some more!  Because, trust me, after they are no longer here you look back and say, “I could have loved a little more!  I could have tolerated a little more!  I could have given in just that one time.”  When the family is broken apart the devil wins.  I thank God for my 28 years that I was blessed with my complete family.  I will continue to thank God for my family, it’s just we are at different addresses.  He is in Heaven; we are Dawson, Charleston, Athens and who knows where else by the time we leave this earth.  But one thing is for sure, we will be reunited…it may take a while but we will be reunited.  For those of you still in one location here on this planet my prayer is for you to find-or refind- your spouse.  Don’t wait until you get to Heaven!

1 John 4:19 (NIV)

We Love because He first loved us