Today is my first day back on a schedule. Whitney, Ty and Karsten left yesterday about 10:30AM. It was nice to have them here the rest of the week. We got some projects done and Whitney and I did some shopping therapy. 🙂 Britton and Michelle and the boys are coming this afternoon for a few hours. I’m heading into the office this morning to wade through my desk.
So many of you have said that Neal’s funeral was so uplifting and thought provoking. Neal wanted to share the light that was within him that gave him strength and comfort. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 says “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. WE are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, preplexed, but not abanded, struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over ro death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” We all will die but because of Jesus’ death on the cross He made us alive. Neal’s body was was ravaged with cancer yet he did not feel abanded or without hope. His earthly body was wasting away yet he still had a will and power that came from Christ. Neal wanted everyone to see that power and light in his body while he was alive and in his passing. We will all experience hard times sometime within our life but the strength of Christ is what can get us through those times with hope, joy, peace and comfort. It’s available to anyone who believes that God is who he says he is and can do what he says he will do. That’s the power that got Neal through this earthly life and it is what is helping me get through this hard time.
It still is hard to sleep at night in our bed. Since I am not caregiving for Neal I have time on my hands. The kids and I had sorted through Neal’s clothes and cleared off his desk last week. So I’ve been clenaing and reorganizing my closet and bedroom. I have more projects lined up to help keep me busy. Some girl friends took me out to dinner last night which was a great change of pace. I still think Neal is at the hopital and will come home soon. That was our pattern for so long so I feel that I’m still in that routine.
Thanks for your love and support during this time.
On the journey,
Trish
Thank you Trish, for this great encouragement.
Sharing yours and Dr. Neal’s journey with us, his patients and friends is a genuine blessing and your testimonies (from both of you) will impact multitudes for eternity.
I pray God’s blessings on you and your family, especially during this next year, when every experience will be the first one without Neal present. There is no way to make it easy, but those times when grief returns with a vengeance will also be the times when God’s comfort once again abounds.