Nov 13th, 2021: A Moment to Give Thanks

 


It was a year ago I went to Montreal to be at my father's funeral. Not too many of us could come because of the limited number of funeral services last year. Today most of us can gather at his graveside for the first time. It is appropriate and fitting because the first anniversary of our parents' passing is important culturally.

Our father is not a complicated man, and he died the same way he lived. Simplicity and commitment were two of his known trademarks. He was also respectful to our mother and learned to appreciate his wife's strengths and gifts. He was quiet and yet persistent in what he believed was right.

It is good to gather together and to give thanks. No one is perfect. We celebrate our father's life because of his many contributions to society and our lives. We have learned those lessons from him. Our children generations will face many different challenges. We pray that they will embrace his examples as they prepare to make their marks in this world. It is rather strange to think about someone responsible for many of our good life memories as part of our life memories.

Having a legacy in our situation is not about having something to boast about. It is an acknowledgement of God's unfathomable goodness and faithfulness.

Isaiah 12: 4-5
"And on that day you will say, "Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted." Praise the LORD in song, for He has done glorious things; let this be known throughout the earth."

Popular posts from this blog

Aug 31st, 2024: Confession

Image
Dealing with pain sometimes affects our ability and flexibility. A physiotherapist friend gave me a set of home exercises to help with that. They are simple yet intense at the same time. Dealing with our human brokenness sometimes affects our ability to see and hear God. Our commitment to spiritual disciplines must be at the core of our relationship with God. One of the disciplines I have been trying to embrace more fully is confession. It’s not just about recognizing where we have gone wrong; it’s about how we have chosen to live our lives independently from God. It’s about whether we truly want God to be part of our lives. The absence of meaningful confession will damage our freedom to experience intimacy with God. "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." - Proverbs 28:13
Read more

Sept 4th, 2024: Praying in Images

Image
It has been a rough few days. Living in immense pain does not allow us much energy to think about anything. I ended up praying in images, and not many words came out of my mouth. Most of the images were of people I know. God knew that I was praying for them as their faces came to my mind. I did not need to mention the circumstances or situations of their lives—He knows. My heart was at peace as I ended my days with these images. He will take care of my body, and I know this because I was able to get some sleep. Tomorrow is in His hands.
Read more

Oct 1st, 2022: Be With Those Who Suffer

Image
  Listening to a young woman who shared her experience of being raped repeatedly by a family member for over four years as a teenager made my heart ache. The man who did that was a leader of a church. He was imprisoned for seven months and released. He was her stepfather. Her mother chose to pick him over her after his release. Her life has changed forever. She had to go to a foster home. Her foster parents helped her with her restoration and her faith in God. Her supervisor at work asked me to see her because someone at work was inappropriate toward her. That triggered many emotions within her. I did not expect the story I heard from her. The meeting took longer than I thought, and it was toward the end of the day. She kept talking about her anger and the pain she felt when men treated her like a subject. I knew that the best I could do was to listen. She told me she had not been able to tell anyone as much as with me. God reminded me of the true calling of being a pas...
Read more