On the sea of change...

The last few weeks have been really draining for me. Last weekend I was able to go up and see my Aunt Vera. It was really good to see her. She is thinner then she has ever been. I know cancer does that to a body. But with all of the signs that she was going the one thing that hit the hardest was that some of the "spunkiness" that she always had is gone.

The loss of that key factor to her personality really showed. When my Mom saw her she said the exact same thing. It's becomes really discouraging when a person is sick to the point where you miss the attributes that you've come to depend on. Friday night, I was able to help my Aunt Vera into bed. She gave me step by step directions on how to help her. When she woke up she insisted that I come and help her get out of bed. I got a glimpse of that spunky side of her again.

I was talking to my Mom today and she was telling me about Ms. Clarice who has always been one of the matriarchs of the church I grew up in. When we moved to Maryland, her family adopted us.

Well Ms. Clarice in her older age has been having major issues with her memory. Last time I was over there I really missed just talking to her because now it is hard to have a conversation because she forgets so much, but she always gives the best hugs!

These two ladies have been very influential in my life. They have shown me strong beliefs and values that I still hold to today. Now they might not agree with my wearing jeans to church, but they are glad that I'm there.

It was funny, Aunt Vera visited a church like mine near Riverside, California while she was out visiting my cousin Larry. She was going on and on about the clapping and the drums, once again bringing out her spunky side, but you could hear pride in her voice that her family were still going to church.

It's amazing that through the changes, God still gives us those glimpses to what we hold dear. In Aunt Vera, her spunky side. In Ms. Clarice, her hugs. Now those things are not the only things that these strong women will be remembered for, they are just things that have helped me get through. When things change what will it be that you are remembered for?

1 Corinthians 7:7 (New International Version)

"I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that."

Each of us has gifts that God has given us. If you do not know what your gift is there are many ways to find out. There are tests online that you can take, or just ask a good friend. Most of the time a good friend can see the gift in us that we can't.

Lord,
Thank you for giving me strong examples of you in my life. As times change, I want to thank you for still giving me glimpses of the past to comfort me. Please be with my family and friends as things get harder. Please keep your protecting hand over Aunt Vera and Ms. Clarice. Keep in charge of my life and keep bringing me back to you when I'm distracted.

Brie!