Have you ever had a month or two that felt like just a few days … and blurry days at that? That’s what August and September have felt like to me. So while today I have a devotion running on Encouragement for Today, and I want to welcome visitors who are stopping in, I also want to share a bit of personal information with my regular readers … those who faithfully read my blog, post loving comments and pray for me.
Don’t think I’ve forgotten about the special giveaway of my friend Tracie’s book. And boy-howdy is it a perfect match for my life right now. Make sure you read how to enter to win at the end of this post.
I’ve had a lot going on these past two months, but I haven’t been able to share much of it. First because I had scheduled a back-to-school series and needed to honor that commitment. Then because I’ve been overwhelmed with family needs. Actually August started off great. I’d been planning a special mother-daughter trip to Scotland for over a year to take my mom to the Edinburgh Tattoo. We are Sinclairs, and there’s just something about the sound of bagpipes when you’ve got Scottish blood in you!
Me and Mom at Edinburgh Castle
Although we had a great time together, we came home to some very sad news. My oldest sister, Helen Ann Ferrel, was having some undiagnosed neurological symptoms. In July she had a small lung cancer removed, and we knew it had spread to her lymph nodes. We kept our trip plans because she was doing well and recovering nicely from surgery. She was to start chemo in
Glynnis, Helen Ann, Mom & sister Paula, July 2012
September, but what none of us knew, including the doctors until just a few days before her death, was that her cancer was aggressive. And what had initially seemed like unrelated symptoms was in fact cancer.
We all dropped everything to be at her side and on August 31st my beautiful big sister passed away. The funeral was the next week, and for the past few weeks it feels like I couldn’t get traction under my feet. If you’ve ever gone through grief you know what I mean.
My sister leaves a huge hole in our family. She was an amazing wife, mother and grandmother – totally devoted to her family above all. She inspired me to set aside the dishes and play with my children, and to always remember that relationships are more important than projects.
In the midst of dealing with this loss, I’ve had the normal pressures of life, and of course a month of work that got set aside for family. So, how does all this fit in with my devotion today? I’m not sure it does. Excepting that I’m convinced of one thing: we need each other to show the love of Jesus, every day, especially in the hard times.
I’ve met some people these past few months who have held tight to Jesus’ teaching. Here are just a few examples:
- The friend who showed up at the hospital with a platter of sandwiches, a case of water, and some gel heel pads for my mother (who was having heel pain).
- The pastor and his wife who opened their home to us, gave us the keys to the front door, and left the keys to the car in case we needed it.
- Church members who brought tray after tray of food to feed the family members who poured in from all over.
- My friends at P31 who told me to drop everything and they would pick up the slack.
And the list could go on. We need each other to follow Jesus’ example … to step into each other’s pain, to reach out and touch with kindness, and sometimes to just show up and grieve alongside us. We live in a world that’s filled with heartache, and fear, and loneliness and grief. There’s only One who can make a difference, and I’m so thankful for brothers and sisters who choose to learn from Jesus and follow His teaching.
Now, there’s one more thing I want to do. And that’s to share a book that can make a difference in your stressful times. In fact, my
friend Tracie Miles is one who has learned from Jesus, and models His love consistently. Today I am celebrating the release of her newest book, “Stressed-Less Living: Finding God’s Peace In Your Chaotic World” by giving away a copy.
To enter, please post a comment related to the topic of my devotion or how someone was Jesus to you in a hard time, or really anything. Just leave a comment on my blog before Sunday at 8 p.m. EST (please don’t hit reply if you are reading this in an email, as it won’t enter you in the contest) and I’ll select a winner and announce it on Monday.
If you don’t win Tracie’s book on my blog, I hope you’ll consider buying it. And you might want to do so next week. Between October 2nd and October 7th Tracie is doing a special promotion, where anyone who buys her book during that week will receive 7 free gifts. You can read more on her book website : www.stressedlessliving.com.
Thanks so much for joining me today, and for sharing in a bit of my life.
Love,
Glynnis
First, my thoughts and prayers for you and your family during this time of grief. I lost my mom in August
I also lost my daughter last October. A couple from my church were my Jesus as they brought my husband and I dinner every night for a week.
dear Glynnis, so sorry to hear of your sisters death. life can change so quickly. i experienced that this summer also. my aunt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that had spread to her stomach ,liver and lungs. she went into hospice care august 10 and died september 10. i spent most of that month with her and was so thankful for the support of friends and family during that time. i was away from my home and family so that support meant so much.my aunt was not able to have children so my brother and i were like her children. my sister-in-law and i went through the journey with her and were so thankful to be able to be with her.praying that God would continue to comfort you and your family through this time of loss. love Joy
I am in so much pain after my husband Christopher was call home to be with the LORD JESUS CHRIST , I am deeply lost without Christopher in my life , I missed Christopher everyday in my life , my husband was call home on July , the grief were so overwhelming , I just seat on my bed crying pray to My Heavenly FAther and read the bible try to get the pain out of my chest but to painful to talk at time , I love Christopher, when he gone one part of me dead too , how am I going to walk my life with GOD , I use to go to church with my husband together and do most of the things togethers , we do our bible reading togetther , now he is not here what am I going to do without him in my life , on the valeutime day that was how I get to know Christopher in my life , it will bring more pain to my heart , there was time I pray to GOD please take me home so that I won’t feel so suffering and I can be with my love one in Heaven , I guess this will be my only prayer to GOD , if u asks me why this prayer I have no family here so what is the use of me been here alone , everyday I cry myself to sleep the inner grief is too painful to bear ! Please pray 4me thank u
I am sorry to hear about the death of your dear sister. She sounds wonderful! I need to remember “people before projects” more. I experienced the Jesus type love from a friend who encouraged me during a transitional time recently. She spoke words of encouragement, hope and love to me just as Jesus did to many in the Bible. And she prays for me too.
I’m very sorry to hear of your terrible loss. I too havebeen stressed out and busy lately, but have not experienced something so tragic.
I read your devotion today from Proverbs 31 Ministries and it was exactly what I’ve needed! I too feel a need to make the best grade and get the best evaluation. I’m a second year teacher going through lots of evaluations and having to turn in a good bit of paperwork, too. On top of that I have a student in my class who is challenging me on every level, three children of my own, and my husband to consider. The stress has taken its toll, and I had an anxiety attack lat Saturday. Your devo, as well as a number of others at Proverbs 31 have reminded me to take these burdens to God because I will only be able to stand up under them with the help of Jesus Christ. God bless you and the others like you for spreading encouragement from God.
Ashley,
I am a retired teacher. I just want to encourage you and tell you things will get easier! Teaching is tough, but so rewarding. Hang in there! Lean on the Lord. He knows what you need even before you ask him. I am going tom pray for you this week.
I felt so lost after my husband was call up to heaven and be with the LORD JESUS CHRIST, I just lost my husband and feeling very lost at heart to do anythings ,I am so deeply sad , life was not the same anymore I am so lost and alonely without my husband , I did asks GOD manythings in my heart over and over , why GOD take my husband home and leaver me here , I need GOD in my everyday life but just cannot move on with life , the feeling of grief is so inner pain to my heart everydays I am all lost in my heart , please pray for me , thank u
So sorry to hear about your sister. When my father died I took a class at my church called “Grief Share”. I signed up with this program to receive an email of a short devotion for about 365 days. It was such an encouragement to go to class and see the videos and share my struggles and listen to others experiencing similar. I thank God for sending others to walk with us during such hard times. I especially liked the devotions that came for a year to my email. They helped me daily. My prayers go up for you and your at this time. Felecia
Glynnis, I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. I have a younger sister who I am not close with. I desire closeness with her but she struggles with addiction and her walls are many, thick, and high. God places her on my heart again this morning as I consider (realistically) a life without her in it. I have prayed for you and your mother; keep clinging to all those people who have supported you as they help God show you His love.
I think your devotional verse was not only good for the devotion but also for your post here. . . they are connected and I pray that you continue to go to the Father and find rest for your heavy burdens and weariness. I do know what it is like to be all things to all people and want to do it all perfectly and by the book, so to speak. I am so glad to hear that those around you, who obviously love you dearly, stepped up in your time of weariness and need to allow God to use them in your life. I truly believe that often the rest He gives is in human form–through those who desire to serve others through Him. I pray that God will use me more often in this way to help others to find rest and comfort in their time of need. Thank you so much for being real today. It was a message that many of us needed to hear with no frills and sugar coatings.
hi , so sorry to hear about your loss and may the peace of GOD comfort you and the entire family .
And I have a friend who I actually call my twin sister. I more than believe she is the Jesus example in my life .
She has been and is still there for me anytime I need her, she will encourage , correct and guide me.
She will cry or laugh with me, has been there for my family and always prays with an d for me . in the hard times I know I can count on her to be there.
I am very sorry to hear about your sister. I pray for Jesus’ peace to flood your heart during this difficult time. I appreciate what you said about not having traction (or feeling that way) during grief. I have felt overwhelmed at times by an illness in my family but i have to be easier on myself when i can’t get traction. Otherwise I get stressed. And I want to make a habit of looking for people that I can be like Jesus to, even with just a word of encouragement.
Thank-you once again for your openness and honesty. It is good when those around us come to our aide and we in turn can do that for others, as God leads us. Your devotion and your thoughts are so true. Jesus provides the rest that we need in all the times of our lives. We are to take up his yoke and trust in HIM.
Thank you for sharing, sorry about your loss!
I am very sorry to read about the passing of your sister.
It was years ago, and during the time of a family members surgery that I first saw the love of Christ displayed in humble ways. While at the hospital friends brought food to our family as we waited, prayers to lift us up and so much support from many.
Years later that same family member had to yet have another surgery but this time out of state. While there for the surgery someone (still don’t know who) went ahead and paid entirely for the hotel room.
So much giving in a time of need. -Colleen G.
My heart and prayers are with you and your family. I am in an overwhelming stage of my life and I see Jesus in the people he has brought into my life, even if for a small moment. I hope and pray for peace and comfort through God’s love for you and your family.
Glynnis,
I am so very sorry to hear about your sister. I don’t and haven’t had that kind of stress in my life, but I was just relating to my husband that this month of September has been a very big challange. I have had a month of deadlines to meet, birthdays, anniversaries, and important work decisions hanging over my head like a huge cloud I can’t get out from under to see the sunshine I know is right there within my reach. To top it off, one of our daughters moved home with a baby due to marital woes. Lord, help us.
Glynnis, God bless you, comfort you, and fill you with hope and strength. I am so very sorry for your sisters passing. How admirable that you continued to write in the midst of all that you were going through. I surely would have fallen apart.
There have been so many people God has sent my way during hard times that I cant count them. I thank God for that.
Glynnis,
My prayer is that God continually comforts you day by day with wonderful memories of your sister and her example in your life. She must have been very proud of her “little sister” who seeks to help others find the peace that only God can give!
You have prayed for me during my 20 months of unemployment. Last Friday,I was interviewed and offered a job. My 625 days of waiting were over on Tuesday morning when I entered my new place of employment for Day 1. I have finally turned the page and begun a new chapter. God is good…all the time!
Pray that I will still have plenty of time and energy to remember the many people that are still in that season of life and that I will be there for them as God put them in my life.
Thank you for your continued example of Jesus!
Glynnis, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Having lost my father to lung CA a few years ago, my brother’s best friend was also battling kidney disease, on the transplant list, and anxiously awaiting a kidney; yet he was still there with us in the hospital as we spent the last few days with my Dad.
I pray for peace, comfort, and healing, especially as the holidays approach. That was the hardest for me, the first holidays. I know that Jesus will be a constant companion and healer to you as you continue to journey through the grieving process. – Theresa L.
I am so sorry about the loss of your dear sister. Thanks for sharing.
glynnis,
will be praying for you and your family. the love of Christian friends and family are so helpful during these difficult times. i always thought that i could handle everything (don’t we all), until one of my children was in a life-threatening accident. the love of God and those surrounding me, helped sustain all of us. may you continue to allow God and those who love you care for you.
Losing someone you love is never easy and never the right time, but knowing the assurance that she is with God and you will see her again, that is the peace that moves you through the waves of pain and loss. I said to my priest recently, sometimes in those moments you just whisper the truth of God’s word over and over till your heart remember its true. God bless.
Kathryn – that is so beautiful how you put that about whispering truth. I’m going to remember that. Thank you for posting a comment.
Being a part of God’s family has blessed me so many times throughout my life. Makes me feel for those who don’t have that. I try to keep my eye out for how I can step up and show them Jesus.
Praying for you and your family. During grief it feels like your life stopped but others
keep going. Allow your Friends to continue to help you heal. No one can replace what you loss. Just cherish your memories and the time you had together. May you find each day a little easier. Give yourself time to grieve. The loss of my brother was such a hard one. Not like the loss of a parent. Take one day at a time. Stay in the Word. My verse for the year is – Be Still And Know That I Am God. Try just to be still and listen and really hear what he is saying to you.
My example is how I believe we create stress in our own lives. We can be used to the chaos and stress. I believe God shows us each and every day to go to Him who is peace with our troubles and it eventually will be handled and we need to handle ourselves the way He wants us to. I think of my work. Which for the past 2 months has been overwhelming and continues to be. I had been praying for things to lighten up. Instead it seemed as though it got worse. I was feeling like this wasn’t where I was suppose to be and feeling as if the light at the end of the tunnel was snuffed out. I started not sleeping and eatling unhealthily and was not being Jesus to others. Well, to make a long story short I have someone who has stepped in to help. Someone who is allowing me to catch up and I believe she was given to me to show me that is where I am supposed to be and now I must use her to “get through”. God showed me once again how I am to HOLD ON in the tough times and to have faith. He is ALWAYS there and I need to rely on that.
I am sorry for your loss and I pray for Him who is peace and love to show you that He is there for you and now your sister is healed and in HIs presence. You WILL see her again one day. Love to you!!
I am so sorry for loss, but I am glad you had the Christian foundation and all the great Christian friends that surrounded you with love during this time. I totally understand how it feels when some becomes your Jesus. When my father came home with Hospice the day before Thanksgiving 2006, I never imagined he would go so fast. I had a friend who my brother nicknamed “Angel”. She came in during the last days and stayed with us by his bed side at night watching and praying over him while we could get some rest. I am so glad she was there. She was an inspiration to not only me, but she touched my brothers and other family members. Jesus worked through her. Isn’t it great that Jesus sends us these people when we need Him. He knows we want to reach out and touch Him, and with these people we can touch Him through them. I pray the days ahead will be happy days filled with great memories and the knowledge that you will one day see your sister again with no illness. God Bless you and Proverbs 31.
I am so sorry to hear about your sister’s death. You and your family will be in my prayers as you continue this journey of grief and growing.
My husband and I are part of an amazing small group – they are family in every sense of the word. We are all involved in orphan care, either through foster care or adoption. While we have been walking through the journey of an older child adoption – and the many emotional struggles that can arise – our small group has been there. I have been able to cry tears of sorrow, weep tears of joy, laugh till my sides hurt, and walk through life knowing that if I need any of them they are no more than a phone call or email away from me.
These people have helped me to see that His yoke really isn’t more work and burden; but that it is rest.
I am sorry to hear of your loss. I am comforted and encouraged by your recognition of God’s presence with you through it. Your gratitude to God is life giving to you and those around you. God bless you and your family as you adjust to this great loss.
Dear Glynnis,
Whether you are on the mountaintop of joy, or whether you are in the pit of despair… you bring us closer to Jesus. I think you honor Helen Ann’s life by the way you live yours. I can picture in your reunion with Helen Ann. Your big sister is going to be right behind Jesus with a huge smile for her beautiful little sis. I’m praying for you and standing in that place of pain with you.
Thank you for your devotion today. One way I’ve found rest is realizing I have to take His yoke. For the longest time, I didn’t see that His light and easy burden was based on my action of taking it! So, I seek it out and schedule it in my calendar.
And get this… one of the greatest tools God has used in my life to give me that peace and rest is… drumroll… my project notebook that I learned from “I Used to be so Organized”!!!
God bless you friend! (and I will purchase my own copy of Tracie’s book because I have Amazon credit- yipee!)
So sorry to hear about your sister. I’m glad you got to be with her in the end. So thankful for God to shower His love to you through others. Two years ago when my husband, boys, and I were in a terrible car accident that threw our life as we knew out of window. I laid in hospital for a month then either laid at home in hospital bed or sat in wheelchair for 4 months. Stress was enormous on us- taking care of our children while I needed a full time care. Through others’ helpful heart, we were fed, were watched over in turns, and so on. Few in particulars came to my mind- a pregnant friend graciously turned all meals directed to us, a neighbor took a month’s work off to stay home with me, a friend brought her laptop to work at my home for a week, an aunt who took boys to museums, parks, etc while I was in a surgery that I had the potential to die during, and strangers who stepped up to our home and gave us meals. It is in this hard time that we see Jesus more.
I appreciated reading your honest blogging about your sister’s death. I find as Christians we often have the “chin up” approach to grieving and loss rather than being honest and saying how much pain is involved i n losing a loved one. I was looking for encouragement today as always from my P31 devotional and your daily devotional sent me to also read your blog.
I am supporting my mom through open heart surgery and am feeling overwhelmed by all the details and the preparations for her surgery. In the midst P31 daily encouragements are keeping me grounded, recognizing I am not alone and many sisters have gone through similar events and come out stronger.
As you expereince the living arms of our Saviour’s comfort I also believe time will show you the beauty of memories shared with your sister.
Trusting you will find rest and hoping I will be able to do the same as I related completely to your devotional today, I am exactly the same striving for more and trying to earn favor of my Heavenly Father, although I know I do not need to. I still strive on needing to break free from this treadmill of pleasing others!
Bless you and your family during this difficult time.
My college aged daughter came home this spring from college just devastated from many stresses in her life…she just didn’t see a purpose anymore…I prayed for her…my friends for her…my family prayed for her ….my church prayed for her…then my daughter started going to “life” group at a our church. A group they started for just the summer for college aged kids…They had speakers each week, worshiped through song, and just talked…This was an answered prayer…At the end of the summer she gave me a CD of worship songs to listen to…She said Mom this is My summer in song…I am OK now…The CD has 19 songs on it..It starts with What Faith Can Do by Kutless…song 10 is Amazing Grace and Song 19 is Jesus Messiah and in between are songs that portray her struggle to overcome and seek God’s glory and the confidence there is something out in this world for her…All I can say is Thank You GOD!!! You are good…Thanks for your blog and I pray you continue to push through your grief of the loss of your sister…
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your sister. You and your family are in my prayers. Dear Heavenly Father, please be with this family. I ask that your comforting love be felt around them during this sad time, holding them until they are reunited with their loved one in Your Kingdom. In Jesus’s Name. Amen.
Glynnis, I’m praying for you in the midst of your huge loss. Thank you for being so real and honest about your life. It helps me know I’m not alone in the struggles and stresses I face.
So sorry to hear about your sister. You did a great job with the Back-to-School series even though you were going through such a tough time. This devotion was perfect for me today. I was just (10 minutes before I read this) explaining to my husband why I’m so frustrated with our busy schedule this fall. Thanks!
Thank you for Sharing your hurts with us this morning. What a beautiful testimony to your sister. God called several angels home this summer. They do leave big holes, do t they? God bless you and comfort you. Xo
My condolences-I have seen God’s hand in my life from a very young age! He has opened doors & placed the most beautiful people in my path- in times of trouble I seek wisdom from others and just hold on to his word….trust in The Lord with all of your heart, lean not on your understanding but in all your ways acknowledge me-Prov 3:5. My journey continues as a challenge between the desire to lead life accomplishing vs slowing down to enjoy those around me!!!
I am sorry to hear of your loss. Praying for you and your family. I appreciate you and how you “real” you are, allowing yourself to be open and sharing your hurts with us. May Jesus continue to comfort you through this difficult time.
So sorry to hear about your loss. Please know you and your family are in my prayers. Thank you for sharing everything with us, I know it was not an easy thing to do. I’m glad you and your mother were able to take your trip, I feel confident that was what your sister wanted. Please know you are an inspiration to all of us who read your blog by the grace you handle the situations you face~ knowing we are not alone in the struggles are also facing. Thank you and God bless.
Glynnis, you are lifted to the Lord in prayers today. You are so blessed to have had such a great sister and to be surrounded by encouraging, loving friends. Claim Gods promises that he will be with you always. His love, protection, provision and presence are continually flowing through you. No stress in that
I’ve wanted to get on a plane and come to Phoenix for weeks and today the desire is so strong. Im heading to FL to speak but how I wish I was heading to your side to sit and pray and listen and cry with you. Oh friend, I am so sad and so sorry for your deep loss of Helen Ann. She is beautiful and your love for one another as sisters and as family is such a rare gift that we all need more of. I hope we get to spend time together soon. I love you!!!
There are times when the heaviness of grief is inexplicable and the advice of those around you may be biblical but lacking compassion. Often, those around us don’t know what to say, thus their words can be painful. Sometimes, only actions, as you described, Glynnis, of those who love and support you is the only thing that “helps”.
Jesus is the only one who can fill our holes and heal our broken hearts, but we are his hands that should reach out to our hurting brothers and sisters. His arms that hold when lonely and hurting, the body that washes clothes, runs errands or is just there at times when nothing else will do. The lips that pray.
Time doesn’t heal all wounds. Jesus does. And its what we do with that time that determines the path to healing. Lord, help us to reach out to those who are hurting. Let us not only see situations with our own understanding, rather lean to you for direction. Thank you for your grace and mercy and unfailing love. Amen
I am sorry for your loss. One of the times someone was Jesus to me was when I was dealing with my ex and related issues of custody and this friend immediately got on her knees and began praying. Within minutes the situation turned around for the better.
This devotional was definitely one that i can relate to. The following part really spoke to me “We need each other to follow Jesus’ example … to step into each other’s pain, to reach out and touch with kindness, and sometimes to just show up and grieve alongside us.”. Believers need to have compassion and love to see each other and not past each other! God continue to bless your ministry!
I am sorry for your loss. May God keep you in his perfect peace.
Amen.
Glynnis,
This so brought tears to my eyes and my heart goes out to you. A few months ago my mother-in-law lost her life to cancer as well. We had no clue… she wasn’t feeling well and had some tests run. On a Thursday the doctor told us it was stage 4 cancer in her lungs, lymph nodes and liver. She was gone the following Monday. Our world was completely rocked… my husband (who is 43) is now without parents (he lost his father to a work accident when he was only 10).
We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from our friends and church family… there is no way we could have gotten through this without them. Thankful can’t even describe it.
I will pray for you and your family Glynnis…
This really blessed me today. It reminded me to keep being there for people and being His hands and feet. I’m so sorry for your loss in your family. It is so great that you have had support and encouragement.
Dear Glynnis, I am so sorry to hear of your loss! I have said many times I don’t know how people get through difficult times without the Lord. He is our peace & comfort, but many blessings come from His people! We have been blessed beyond measure by other brothers & sisters in Christ. Thank-you for this reminder, to help me be more sensitive to the needs around me. Praying for the Lord to bring to mind someone we can love on today!
I’m so sorry about the loss of your sister. My prayers are with you and your family. This is exactly what I needed to read today. I’ve been battling Lyme disease for a year and get very discouraged some days. However, this post helped me think more positively today. Sometimes I forget about all of the people who have helped our family get thru these tough times. I also REALLY need to hold onto the fact that Jesus is near even when I am in a bad spot with this situation. God bless you!
What a Jesus moment when you can turn your chaos into comfort for others and your grief into praise. I’m so sorry for your loss but am rejoicing that heaven is rejoicing with your sister. Its evident that you have family blessings that are not limited to blood. Jesus has given ou the blessings of non-blood family and I’m hopeful that you rely on that and other promises He gives during this difficult time.
Thanks as always for sharing and reminding us that we are not alone when dealing with grief. A few years my husband and I returned to our home town of Baton Rouge, LA when his father passed away. At the time Katrina was a tropical storm and expected to pass us. The day of the visitation we were told she was a catagory 4 and would hit the next day. Friends opened their home to us. It took 2 more days before we could hold the funeral by candlelight as there was no electricity. It was another 2 days before the cemetary could be cleared enough for the burial. Even though no one in the area had electricity they donated all the ice and food they could to get our family through this difficult week. They took care of my mother-in-law and rebuilt her fence and cleared trees from her yard. I had never seen such an outpouring of love and devotion even from those we barely knew. They put aside their own struggles and problems from the storm to take care of us and I will never forget it. We had a 10 hour drive back home through new routes as old ones had been destroyed but God literally led the way, took us down off roads because He knew there would be a gas station that few people knew of and gave us the most beautiful sunset to look at while we drove home.
This Thanksgiving some of our family will be out of town so we will having our big family dinner a week early. I am hoping that we will be able to spend Thanksgiving day being the hands and feet to others that don’t have family or even a home. It’s such a small way to give back compared to what we have received.
Dear Glynnis,
Your devotion was amazing! Thank you for sharing. So sorry to hear about your sister. I am on my way to work and do not have much time but wanted to stop by and give you a cyber hug. Much love to you and yours at this very sad time. You are loved!
Prayers and blessings,
Cheri
I was reminded of God’s constant presence in my life as I drove to work this morning at 5:00 a.m. The full moon appeared right in front of me when I turned onto the road that leads from my house to work. My first thought was “God is great; God is good. Thank you Father for your constant love, comfort, and strength.” My life has been full of struggles the past few years as I have dealt with family finance situations due to loss of job, illness, and at times, utter chaos. Thankfully, my faith in God has strengthened instead of weakened; I have been helped so much thru this ministry and daily encouragement. I thank you for this ministry and how you have helped me. I am able to understand that by following Jesus in these hard times, I will be better able to serve God and His people. I will be more able to walk with others as they endure pain or chaos and share with them the love of God.
Thanks for your encouraging words to rest in Jesus. It comes at a fitting time in my life. Yesterday a dear friend of ours from college was taken home to Jesus. We will miss her. As we grieve we pray for you and your family as you travel through the grieving process. It is so reassuring to know that Jesus is there with us, understanding our grief and reminding us that our beloved friend is rejoicing at being home with Jesus. God bless you.
Glynnis, I’m sorry to hear of your loss. Thank you for the reminder that life is precious here on earth but an even bigger reminder that it is even more precious in heaven, if we follow Jesus. I pray peace and comfort for you and your family.
While I can only lament with you the intense time you are enduring (because there never seems to just be a beginning or an end:), I identify with your plight. God has given us three wonderful sons-none of whom have brains that work exactly the way their neurologist or teachers might prefer! Plus, any family of five has a certain level of demands. My husband and I also try to act as ambassadors in our local, rural county jail. With all of this in mind, “Stress-Less Living” seems like divine intervention! Many blessings to you during this time of trial.
I’ve been reading your blog the past few months and have been blessed by your words so many times. I am sorry to hear of your loss. I’ve decided this past year to make a committment to try and choose people over things.
It doesn’t always come easy. Sometimes it’s hard to choose getting up off the couch and taking my grandson outside for a walk because I’m tired but I am trying to speak into his little life and that demands I spend time with him and others.
Before my oldest son was diagnosed with MS at age 15 we were frantically trying to make an appointment with a neurologist to find out what was wrong with him. No one had an appointment less than 2 months away. When you have a hurting child you don’t want to want you want to fix. Finally I found a neurologist who would make an appointment for him the next day at 8 am. It wasn’t until after the appointment that I realized walking out of the office that the doctor had made our apppointment before their regular office hours to make time for our son.
We were so blessed not having to wait for 2 months. He was diagnosed with MS and we were devastated. That was 13 years ago and my perspective has changed. He is doing great. He graduated from college, got a job, and bought a home. God has been with us every step of the way through the people he has put in our paths along the way. Blessings to you and yours…
Thank you so much for this devotion! It spoke to my heart greatly. I seriously want to be a blessing to those in need like the folks that you have mentioned who were a blessing, and, encouragement to you in your time of need.
Praying for you, and your family.
Marsha
Praying for you and your family, Glynnis. Cancer can take everyone by surprise, and its timeline is unknown. Our church family lost a beautiful 29-year-old wife and mom last month, and a 15-year-old boy last spring, and the list could go on. While my family hasn’t been touched by cancer, we have our own challenges, and my dear MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) sisters have rallied around us. Last Christmas, knowing that we’d been financially challenged and were struggling, they spontaneously brought our family dinner for a week so that we could use the grocery money for gifts. When I had a demanding deadline, they took my kids for playdates to give me needed silence. And the prayer support, while unseen, was felt and greatly appreciated! I hope to be able to be to them what they’ve been to me some day.
Oh, Glynnis. I’m so sorry about your sister. I pray that the Lord will comfort your family. I wept as I read your article because today is just “one of those days” for me, as well. My little sister is on day two of radiation (at the age of 31). I have been pouring a little extra love into her daughter, my niece (a first grader) who can’t understand why mommy can’t be near her just now. My marriage is crumbling under the weight of an addiction that my husband can’t seem to shake. MANY people have been “Jesus” to me during this whole ordeal. My other sister has shown up with food when I thought I’d run out, my church family has shown up at my door and met with my husband in an effort to help, they’ve paid for our dinner, offered us a place to go if things got out of control with my husband. When I think of all the selfless things people around me have done (I could NEVER in a thousand years,repay them). I get on my knees and praise the Lord because He has put these people in my life. He proves to me that no matter how hard it gets, He will always protect us, provide for us and comfort us. I am a living testimony to that. Now, it’s my turn, to be like Jesus for my little sister and her daughter. I ask the Lord to use me to reach my sister and her daughter, and to be a blessing to them, as so many have been to me. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the light of His face shine upon you and bring you comfort and peace! You will be in my prayers, my sister.
My heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to you and your family. The devotion came at a perfect time for me. There are many issues in my personal life that I am having to deal with right now and I continually pray as the scripture says to Come to Me all who are burdened and weary….and you will find rest for your souls. I have asked others to pray for me and my family members. There was a time when I was being treated for cancer 12 years ago and my family and friends helped me tremendously during that time. Jesus worked through them as they provided food, comfort, prayers. thank you for your words of encouragement.
Such words I needed to hear. So sorry for your loss. Makes my stress seem small but I know nothing to. Large or small for Jesus. I pray you heal. I too have lost a sibling at a young age. It has been 21 years now. I miss my brother so. I still wonder why he left so early but trust Jesus needed him more. Be strong. Be faithful always.
I am terribly sorry about the loss of your sister. You are such a shining example to me of what a Godly woman should be like. You inspire me daily. I absolutely love reading your blog & devotions. I pray that God will comfort you in only the way that He can. I feel confident your sister is in a much better place than we are, and I’m sure she was EXTREMELY proud of you and the work you do.
My prayers for you and your family as you grieve the loss of your loved one.
Tami
I am so sorry to hear about the death of your sister. I know how a heart feels after great loss. My parents passed away only 11 months apart. I had a 3 year old and a new born. I actually felt my heart had been physically broken at time. It was my in-laws and my church family that kept me going. They just stepped in and helped with children and food and life in general. My Women’s Bible Study held my me in their prayers and I could feel it. 13 years later, I can look back and see how loved we were!
I’m sorry about your sister, Glynnis. It’s hard, very hard, but God always heals the hurt or changes it somehow, especially with the good friends around you describe.
For me, my mother-in-law has been Jesus to me on many occasions.
I was wondering if HOW you started to focus more on Jesus vs. the tasks or performance you describe? I’m exactly like that, recognized that flaw in me a long time ago but am having trouble letting it go and relying on Jesus without feeling lazy somehow.
Hi Glynnis, I was deeply touched and moved by your devotion and your sharing today. First, I am very sorry for your loss of your sister, I will be praying for comfort and healing for you and your family from the Holy Spirit as only He can do. Second, you put exactly how I’ve been feeling and doing for longer than 2 months, but I couldn’t pinpoint it or understand what has been happening until I read your words today, so I want to thank you with the utmost respect and say that because of your sharing your deep, personal thoughts, my life has changed and maybe now that I can put into words, I can share those with my close friends who can pray for me and I can pray the words too and seek Godly counsel towards healing. Life is hard and unfair and full of disappointments, but God is bigger and faithful to His promises to us and in hard and difficult times, we need to trust in Him alone and know that He is God and will take care of all things in His timing. Grace and Peace to you my sister in Christ and a fellow adoptive mom!
Blessings,
Suzi
So very sorry for your loss. My prayers for peace and healing go out to you and your family.
I am so sorry to hear about your sister’s passing. I cannot even begin to imagine what you must be going through! What I do know is that God will get you through it. I admire your willingness and honesty in sharing your life and your thoughts to encourage others. May God bless you!
I am a very private person devoted to take care of my family. I don’t really have any close friends. It is very hard for me to share the most difficult events in my life with anyone, because I don’t want to put the burden on my loved ones. However, when I needed it the most, not only my pastor, my church, my daughter’s school, but people I didn’t even know came from everywhere to offer their help to me! A woman I didn’t know opened her home to me, prayed with me, and offered me her unconditional support… she was Jesus to me! My pastor, who was there for me and my whole family at all times for years, and also opened his home to us…he was Jesus to me! Most of all, Jesus took over and carried me…because I couldn’t have gone throught it all by myself.
Hi Glynnis, I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. The message you bring today is a very important one, and one that I needed to hear myself on this very day. I understand cancer. I lost one of the biggest inspirations in my life to it. My inspiration walked the walk and talked the talk. He was a pastor and I would see him wake up even in the wee hours of the morning or very late at night to the sound of a telephone call and he would go to them and pray with them, all night if that’s what it took. I am speaking of my grandfather, and my grandmother was no different. I can remember her cooking huge meals for the family, but when another family was in need of a meal, she would double cook that meal (they got the exact meal we did!) and we wouldn’t sit down as a family to eat until they had delivered the food and prayed with the family…then they would come home, we would pray and eat. They made sure we learned the Golden Rule. I’ve been missing them so much recently and have visited their gravesite several times in the past week. My life has turned so chaotic and I am not even sure who I am anymore…I’ve lost me in the process of all and the happiest of all memories keep flooding back to me, the times I spent with them. One of the things I miss most is that feeling of love when you entered the door of their home. I will keep you and your family in my prayers and thank you so much for sharing this with us today…what a blessing you are! God uses us in even the most painful moments of our lives…
Hello, I am sorry to hear of your loss and I hope God continues to bring comfort to your family in the days ahead. I can relate to your devotional. Where mine isn’t totally pinpointed I can relate to going overboard in areas of y life then feeling drained. Trying to do everything for everyone and being everything to all is a lot at times. Thank you for the gentle reminder that I am to follow Jesus in all things and find rest in him alone. God bless you.
There are no words to express my heart at the passing of your sister. Please know that many are lifting you to the one true source of comfort.
As I read your blog I had tears in my eyes recalling the 3 month window of time when my father died, I went into labor with my 3rd child while we were at the funeral parlor planning his service, and my mother went to meet the Lord less than 3 months later. Add to the mix we were renovating our “new” home and moving, selling our old home, sold my parents home and moved mom into a condo near us… With 2 toddlers and a newborn, the time was such a blur – but God’s love was the only clear presence in our lives, demonstrated through acts of kindness from our friends and church family. You will regain traction – but until then, people will continue to carry you forward…
My friend, Connie, helped show through her faith in Christ that I didn’t have a personal relationship with Him. I was going through a divorce and consistently making poor choices. I began going to church with her and realized I wanted Christ to change my heart.
Glynnis, I am sorry to hear about your loss. Cancer is one of the cruelist diseases out there, and I pray God’s comfort for you and your family but also His understanding. Many times with such sudden tragedy, we ask God “why”…why this person? Why now? Why this way? I pray that God will give you and your family peace about His decision.
My family too has been through some tragic health challenges over the past few years and the most recent was when my father and mother were in the hospital at the same time last summer. I am an only child, so this was extremely hard for me. The doctors weren’t sure at all what was going on with my mother and after batteries of tests, they still couldn’t positively diagnosis her. She was miserable and I felt so helpless. Then I received a call on my first day back at work that they were rushing my dad to the hospital. I was so lost and overwhelmed. While I was in the emergency room with my father, trying to soothe his pain and figure out how to handle all of this, in walks my godfather. I hadn’t had time to call anyone but my mother who was still in her hospital bed. How did he know I needed someone? He and my godmother were with my mother when I called and he said he’d take care of me and headed right down to the ER. God sent him down to us in that ER because I wasn’t strong enough on my own at that moment and I thank God for my family and support system as we continue to deal with my father’s declining health.
Be blessed and encouraged…with love – Tiffany
Dear Glynnis,
So very sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers. I spent my drive to work this morning listening to the song, “I Can Only Imagine”. What comforting words! I hope you have a chance to listen to it. Your sister is with Jesus! Praise be to God!
“Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Glynnis, May God continue to comfort you as you bring comfort to others.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Yesterday I posted on Facebook how it was so amazing to me how the grass healed itself after a brutal summer and was all lush and green again. A friend commented “If only [we] could be like grass, so resilient even after such diversity, maybe there is a lesson in that, the will and spirit, even if it is almost dead or appears to be dead, never dies, just knows to keep on keeping on, and growing and accepts drought, rest, growth.”
I thought that was really special and insightful. I have heard about so much loss this week, your sister, my mom’s childhood friend who was just diagnosed with cancer in July and passed last weekend, my sister’s childhood sweetheart whose wife lost twin baby girls, and the 17th anniversary of my mom’s best friend lost battle to breast cancer.
This week I also read 2 Samuel 5:23–25; 6:5 with David asking God advice about a battle, “And again David asked the LORD what to do. ‘Do not attack them straight on,’ the LORD replied. ‘Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the LORD is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.’ So David did what the LORD commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.”
David never did anything without asking the Lord what to do. Because he sought God and always obeyed God’s commands, the guidance became more and more specific. When victory came—thanks to David’s obedience—David took none of the glory for himself. He gave it all to God, leading the people in joyous celebration in song. Seek God, obey him, expect victory, and praise God for what he does. This is a pattern David leaves us to emulate. Always take it to God, our pain, our happiness, our frustrations, our victories, always, always, always, and PRAY. He will see you through.
Much love,
Shannon
Thank you for sharing your story. I know all too well how times of loss will make you loose yourself.
So he went to go and ask his dad about it. That is when he found him. The blessing is that if he didn’t come home early my oldest son Cammeron (5) who was grandpas best friend would have gone in to his room to tell him about his day. My husband called me to come home so my sister had to come and get me to bring him home. Her boyfriend had left work early so my kids stayed with him. After my father-in-laws death neighbors actually cooked for me and my family. I have NEVER had that done. I did not know people still did that. To this day that means a lot. We had a lot of unexpected expenses that week and being able to share a meal with our family that I didn’t have to prepare or buy meant a lot. God was watching over us that day. He used Cammeron and Carter (my youngest) to bring us closer to him and into a Church that would tell us what the true meaning of being a Christain meant. Thank God for that time of trial in our lives. It just might have saved us.
My story of Jesus showing himself to my family happened back when I thought I was a christian, but didn’t truly know what that meant. My father-in-law lived with my family-first because we were young and needed to depend on him and then it became that he depended on us. My children were young 5,4 and 1 when he passed away. Looking back Jesus was working on us the ENTIRE time. My mother-in-law who normally watched our kids had a dr appt so my sister who had just lost her job was watching them for me. My husband who never comes home early came home because he forgot something. My dog was acting wierd (wouldn’t leave him alone – so not like my lazy dog
What an encouragement, Glynnis, your back to school series has been for me!
And then to think how very hard it was for you to be able to write it, with so much turmoil and busyness going on in your personal life. I am so very sorry for your loss of your big sister. I too, have a big sister who I so look up to. But THANK YOU for honoring your committment to doing the school series~ I so needed it. I also really needed this post today…. Being a mom of 3 little kids (7,4 and 2) sometimes I feel so very overwhelmed to say the least. On top of relatives battling grave illnesses, a house remodeling project and a busy schedule of volunteering at school and church~ many days I feel like I am drowning in to-dos and snotty noses to wipe. I think this book you mentioned would be so very helpful. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your last few months~ it helps me to remember I am not alone on those times when life feels like a whirlwind. Hugs.
Add my prayers to the others, Glynnis. God bless you.
Love removes stress and anxiety- lightens our burdens. Love brings peace and assurance. Love builds faith. GOD is LOVE! Love feels great whether it’s being given or received! It’s an honor to be able to show love and in so doing, serve the Lord! Thank you for keeping us aware of God’s abounding love for each of us and may we all continue in His love.
Life Goes On! That’s what I have learned losing 2 parents in the past couple of years. Even though we are in the midst of grief and sadness, life around us continues. There are still bills to pay, work, kids to take care of, other parents to take care of… The list goes on. The hope we have in this situation is that we will get through it, either we let God take care of us or we struggle and muddle through it, a lot harder than it has to be if we would just let God be God!
While spending days on end at the hospital with a family member, a visit from a friend or neighbor was a tremendous blessing. It was so good to see someone from back home. Sometimes the simplest things can be such a blessing in the midst of hard times.
Hi Glynnis,
My thoughts are with you during this time of transitioning. I am also grateful that you have such a vast support system that upholds you.
Someone passed on information to be about P31 earlier this year and I have started receiving their email. I feel supported by these emails and the information provided. They have really hit home at times. I am trying to work through organization and your book has helped me and given me new perspective. Thank you for that. While I have not made great strides. I am making strides to conquer this issue.
I have joined Melissa’s Unglued bible study.
As mentioned, I have been reading your emails and others from P31. These emails have been so inspiring. I feel like I have that extended support you are discussing and appreciate the everyone helping me and enforcing the example that: we need each other to show the love of Jesus, every day, especially in the hard times.
Thank you so much for all you do! I am sorry for your loss. I loved reading how your commumity rallied around your family at that tragic time. When my sister was dying from pancreatic cancer, the pastor from my church visited with my family often eventhough I was the only one in my family attending that church at the time. This love without boundaries brought a great deal of healing to us from past church hurts. Eventhough my sister’s death was a heartbreaking event, God used it for his glory. Praise Jesus!
I am sorry for your loss. I hope you and your family have found comfort and strength from our Lord and Savior. I have been dealing with a difficult child for the past two years (my 6 1/2 yr old daughter). We have finally reached the point of taking her to someone who can help her professionally. It has been a heart wrenching time for us. I spend a lot of time blaming myself for her “issues.” I don’t know what I would do without my sisters in Christ, my babes. We are called “Bible Study Babes” and we meet every Wednesday morning. We are all mothers and wives who come together for fellowship and support. Every one of us has had problems, deaths, marital problems, etc. we constantly and faithfully lift each other up in prayer. I thank God for these women every day. They are a constant reminder of God’s love and grace. Thank you for your devotions and words of comfort. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Prayers for you & your family during this time of loss.
I love how God brings friends into our life to help carry us through the hardest times. I’ve lost both my parents & a child & had another son diagnosed with Leukemia and each time… there were dear friends who came alongside me & helped me bear the weight of my grief. Each time my friends supported & encouraged me… offered me hugs & sent cards. Their prayers to the Father kept me alive during the death of my son.
Glynnis, I’ve read your blog off & on for awhile now & I’m pretty sure that you have done the same for your friends so I believe Jesus was just pouring back into your life what you have sown into the lives of others. May you continue to be blessed & loved on by your friends & family & may you continue to feel the love & comfort of the Father through their hugs & prayers.
Blessings!
Glynnis, I am so sorry for your loss and am praying for strength for you and your family. You are a blessing to all of us. Peace and Grace.
Martha
My favorite thing a friend did and does for me at difficult times is to stop and pray for me Right That Moment. She will text me that she is lifting me up Right Then.
What a friend.
Your blog has really resonated with me today. May you find comfort and peace in your sister’s death and the celebration of her life with Jesus. Thank you for inspiring me.
I’m so sorry you lost a wonderful sister. I can’t imagine how that feels. As yet, I haven’t experienced such a profound grief. I pray that when I do I will have support as helpful as you described. I also pray the memories you have of your sister will bring healing in this season.
Thank you for your willingness to share the real parts of life with your readers. I prayed for you and your family today. I really resonated with your devotion today and am trying to learn from Christ’s example to rest and build relationships in the midst of ministry.
Right now we are taking care of my MIL. She has dementia, recently had a heart attack, and has congestive heart failure. It can be really hard to help her and very stressful. We have 8 year old twins, a 6 year old and a 15 month old. Our home can be chaotic when everyone wants something at once. My friend, who I usually only see at church, can take one look at me and know when I need a hug. Just wish we had more time to visit.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Thank you for sharing with us. Regarding the devotional, I feel I am yoked with my parents marital issues and they are weighing me down. I need help with this. I can give my burdens to Jesus but how do I give someone else’s away? I try to tell my mom that I am not the person she needs to confide in but she says God is silent right now and she is facing too many giants. I have many difficulties of my own but hers are the ones I feel burdened by. I think I am yoked to them and I’m not sure how to give that to Jesus. Thank you.
Glynnis,
I’m so sorry for your loss. I know what it’s like to lose a family member suddenly. My sister was killed in a military plane crash in 1997 and I was in that “blur” for a month. I don’t remember anything the month following my sister’s death, but I know I got through it with the help of God, my family, and my church family. My mother was also diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2006 and died the beginning of September of that same year. Again I got through it with the help of God, my family, and my church family. I’m so glad that you have such good Christian friends to help you through this.
Glynnis, I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your sister. I can picture our departed loved ones dancing with Jesus and be comforted. It’s a lovely and bittersweet image. Your devotion today really spoke to me and describes me perfectly. I’ve referred to myslef as a ‘people pleaser’ and ‘peace keeper’ all my life. That has its good and bad aspects. How wonderful it would be to see myself as a “Jesus Pleaser” instead – or at least first! That is what Jesus wants. Thank you for showing me this new perspective on how to seek rest in Him.
Tears in my eyes for you this morning as I read of the loss of your sister…praying for you & your family and praises for her Godly legacy to you all. My husband and I will always remember all the kind people who brought snacks, checked on us, offered their homes for us to stay and gave money to help defray costs when our oldest daughter was surprisingly born at 27 weeks of pregnancy while we were traveling 1000 miles from home. Those were long and scary days and all the ways The Lord took care of us through others who were listening and obeying His call was amazing!
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am sorry to hear of your loss. I can still remember the day that my father passed away in April 2001 and all the people that stepped in to help our family cope with this loss. We had a houseful of people the whole day and I am so thankful for all of their help. However, my best friend’s husband probably gave me the best help of all when he made her leave me alone that evening so I could spend time with God and grieve in my own way. It was a hard loss on the whole family, but God gave me a peace that night that is unexplainable. My mother did not handle the situation well so it was up to me to handle all the details and I know that one evening alone with God was what gave me the strength to step in for her so she did not have to worry about anything. It is so wonderful how our Father knows exactly what we need when we need it and sends the right people into our lives just at the right time.
Glynnis,
My heart breaks for your family’s loss. There is not much worse than losing someone to cancer. I really appreciate your words that remind us to leave the dishes for later, though. That is so true, and something that we have to think about every single day. Life on this earth is just too short.
The picture of you, your sisters and your mom is beautiful. I love that you are clinging to Helen Ann’s shoulders, and I hope that you will cling to those precious memories of her as you mourn. I pray they will bring you comfort and peace.
My family recently said goodbye to my great Uncle Kenny. While we are sad, we know he is in Heaven worshiping our great God with our family that has already gone before us. Seeing his children and grandchildren and how they are using their gifts from God and the lessons he taught them, reminds me that a part of him will always be with us through them. Just as a part of his sister, my grandma, that I never had a chance to know, will always be with us through what the family has learned from her and passed down to my cousins, sister and me. And while my dad has shared many stories with me, I’ve always had a difficult time with not having a chance to know my grandma. But I think through my Uncle Kenny’s funeral I have realized that I do have a chance to know little parts of her by what she taught to her children as well as her siblings that were so inspired by her love of God and others. Just as your sisters family will continue to live out all that she has taught them. She sounds like an amazing woman.
As far as the book, I look forward to reading this book and will buy it even if I don’t win a copy. I have experienced a lot of pressure to measure up, to do things just right. Growing up, I could always do more/be better in my mom’s opinion. I know she just wanted what is best for me, but it has led to a similar line of thinking as mentioned in your devotional. Its led to so much stress because I think if its not perfect and if someone is unhappy, I didn’t try hard enough. That always leads to stress and thinking I am not good enough. I believe this book can help me learn to let go of that, and look to God’s thinking of me.
Loss leaves a big hole in our hearts. In 2008 my husband and I received the call no parent wants to receive. Our son who had just graduated from college and was in his first week at his new job had had an brain aneurysm and was being rushed to the hospital. Those 5 days were filled with love and support from our church’s community group who feed us both physically and spiritually. They cleaned our house, picked up things we needed and did whatever they could for us. They were God’s feet. It was both humbling and uplifting because we were at the rock bottom emotionally. The days following were a blur and the following year my emotions were raw but God was faithful and when I would scream at him he would speak to me through a song and I would feel his arms wrap around me. It is true he is a faithful and loving God. What satan meant to destroy us God has turned around and we will get to spend forever with our son some day.
I’m so sorry to hear of your sister’s death. I understand how such a loss can make you flounder and also be grateful for help at the same time. When I lost my dad, I didn’t know how I would make it some days. If it hadn’t been for the prayers and help of family and friends, I don’t know how I would have gotten through. Honestly, I was angry with God for a long time and couldn’t accept his peace and grace. Thankfully those same family and friends as well as the Spirit of the Lord brought me through. I learned that while I was weak, God strengthened me. Even when I didn’t ‘feel’ Him, He was there waiting patiently for me to allow him to shoulder my burden of loss and lift me up. I still can’t understand why my dad was taken from me, but God has shown me that I don’t have to understand. I just have to accept God’s strength which is made perfect in my weakness. I will always miss my dad, but I know he’s with the Lord whom he worshiped faithfully all of his life. I have learned to be thankful for the time I had him here on this earth and look forward to seeing him again someday in heaven.
Wow! I didn’t mean to go on and on. But thank you for the chance to share.
Thank you for sharing. Your P31 devotional spoke to me directly today. I am sorry so much is going on in your life but appreciate that you share so that we can see God working and leading you through.
My Dear Glynnis,
My heart breaks for you and your family. Life is precious and short and unpredictable and we much cherise every moment.
Blessings to you and your family.
Glynnis, I am so sorry for your loss. I wholeheartedly agree with what Felecia said about Griefshare. It is a wonderful ministry that validates people’s losses and at the same time encourages them to move on. They have the small groups at churches and they also have online devotions that one can subscribe to. Wonderful Christ-centered program. One of the things that touched me the most when my husband passed was something my pastor did the Sunday afterwards (which was a couple days later). After the message, he called pretty much all of the widows and widowers in the church (it is a small church) down to the front , got them all in a circle, put me down among them, had us all hold hands, and then he very pointedly prayed for all of us but particularly me, and used them as examples of people who had also lost their spouse and God had brought them through it, some years before…others within the past few months. It was great because at times when I would be tempted to be discouraged and feel like nobody understood, I would think of those people and the people I knew from Griefshare and know God would get me though it. He and his family also provided the food for after the memorial service for the people from family and church.
Oh Glynnis.. I cannot collect my thoughts after your writing for today..tears fill my eyes…the loss of a sister (I can’t imagine the pain) and the overwhelming love of Christ shown to your family. I’ve walked the path of cancer taking my father-in-law and on Monday I will sit with my mom while my dad has a biopsy for what appears to be lung cancer. I haven’t allowed myself to “lose it” over this news knowing we have a long road a head of us…until this morning. Now I can’t stop the water falling down my face…
Praying for you and your family that God may wrap His comforting arms around you.
Thank you for reminding me of Who is in control of all things.
And for you, may you truly feel embraced and loved and comforted by our Father’s love and care!
The first thought that came to my mind after reading this was “Peaks and Valleys”. Life is just so full of them, moments of great excitement and then moments of overwhelming shock and loss. And yes, Christ is there every moment. How utterly and completely blessed you were to have others be the hands and feet of Christ to you, and a great reminder that He is in the midst of whatever we are traveling through. May you rest and be refreshed in His presence.
I am so sorry for your loss. I lost a sibling (a brother) several years ago and my heart still aches to have him with us even though I know he is in such a better place now. Sometimes we ‘joke’ that he won the race and that he is the lucky winner who got to go to heaven first.
I was amazed at all the family and friends who did so much for our family in that time.
I want to start by saying that I will be praying for your family during this loss. I pray that you and your mother were able to enjoy your trip to Scotland. I was able to go to Scotland with my father about 20 years ago. It was his last trip there and my first. He is still with us but unable to travel due to health issues. My father was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland. He left when he was around 21 years old. I was able to take my daughter, who was 10 years old at the time, with us. It was an incredible trip. He was able to show me places where he grew up and played as a child and took us all over Scotland. I thank God that I was able to spend that time over there with him. I pray for him everyday due to the fact that he isn’t a Christian. I try to show Jesus to him by my actions. Thank you for your blog and P31 ministry.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I know that there are no words that can make it better and that sometime all we need is a hug – so here’s a great big hug coming your way. My Mom was diagnosed with colon cancer is April and died the end of May of this year. A few days before her memorial service my Father was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died the end of August. My Mom and Dad live in CO and I was blessed to be able to spend 41 of the last 44 days of her life with her and my Dad. My husband was awesome about me being gone from home for 2 months. His comment was always stay as long as you need but hurry home. While I was in CO our church family was awesome and fed my man on a regular basis and checking in with me daily. When my Father was diagnosed it was just “too much” and I couldn’t physically, emotionally or mentally do all for him that I was able to do for my Mom. I was so blessed that his church family stepped in when I could not. I’m so thankful to have these people in my life and to show me Jesus thru their actions. Although some days I don’t think I’ll make it thru another day without my Mom, God is good and sends those to comfort me. Dad and I both anxiously await the day that we are with Mom but neither of us would want her here the way it was in the end. Life does go on and the overwhelming grief hits at the oddest of times and it is at those time that I KNOW without my Lord I wouldn’t be able to go on.
So sorry to hear of the passing of your sister. My mom died suddenly this last June. Iam having to find a new normal without my mom. AS will all who have lost. Grief sucks. I am so thankful that God placed many wonderful people in my life to support me. There is this one friend who just is always ready to give me a hug whenever i se her. She doesn’t just give a quick hug, she hangs on holding me whether im ready to let go. I not only can feel her love but Christ’s as well. I praise God for her and everyone who has been supportive. Hugs to you Glynnis and give your mama a hug too from me.
No words…just prayers.
I am so sorry, Glynnis, for the loss of your sister. I pray God will continue to use those around you to aid Him in comforting you & your family. Many times no words need to be spoken, just knowing others support you & care. We experienced this recently after my husband had a serious car accident caused by deer in the road. He spent 2 weeks in a comma, 17 days in ICU, a total of 34 days in the hospital. During that time so many lifted him up in prayer & stood by us during those uncertain days. The Drs. gave a 10% chance of survial…He should not have survived; however God’s power is greated than Man’s understanding & my husband has made a Complete physical & more astonishing, complete mental healing! Praise God! Hugs to you today!! Cindy
Glynnis, I am just being introduced to Proverbs 31 Ministries and I am so thankful for the words of encouragement I have received. I just want to start off my saying I will be praying for you and your family as you deal with the
loss of your sister. I lost my older brother 10 years ago and had a Sunday School class that was their for me and my family. What a blessing it was to have them cover us in Jesus’s love. But I really want to share the best part of the story. There was 9 years difference in age between my brother and I. He left home to join the military when he was 17. He was over seas a lot and I never really knew him. In 1999 my brother and his wife lived in Mid-west City,Ok. This was the year a very large tornado went through Moore and part of my brothers neighborhood. Only fourteen people died but my sister-in-law was one of them. My brother loss the love of his life- they were soul mates – and he lost everything. His wife and all his worldly belongs. Now for the rest of the story. My husband and I went up and helped him through the funeral arrangements and to get settled into a small apartment. Six months later he calls me from the hospital at 6pm and tells me he is in with the flu, next morning he calls again-this time he tells me he has heart problems and finally that evening he calls back to say he needs a heart transplant.. Needless to say I drove from Dallas to go find out what is going on. How does someone go from having the flu to needing a heart transplant. So he does need a transplant but my husband and I move him in with us(to Dallas) and with a great doctor we are able to get him on meds and new diet and he does not get a transplant. Just gets over this and 6 months last he is diagnosed with cancer. So within 3 years of my sister-in-law dying my dear sweet brother loss his battle with cancer in June 2002. BUT. I had 3 wonderful years to get to know and love a brother I never really knew. That was my blessing I received and am thankful that God allowed me to have that special time with him. So remember all the wonderful times you had with your sister and praise God for them. God is so Good and their is always a silver lining if we just see it through God’s eyes. May God Bless you and this wonderful ministry.
Dearest Glynnis, I am so very sorry for your loss. May God comfort you and your family during this difficult time.
Glynnis,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Your message hit home especially this part, “We need each other to follow Jesus’ example … to step into each other’s pain, to reach out and touch with kindness, and sometimes to just show up and grieve alongside us.”
I just found out yesterday that a sister in Christ has stage 4 breast cancer. She has been a staple at our church, ushering during most of the services and was a fierce prayer warrior when my then 10 year old was hospitalized. She went after every pastor to solicit prayers on his behalf. I’m hoping I can do the same for her now in her time of need.
Hugs to you and your Mom. May the peace of God which passes understanding surround all of you.
Dear Glynnis, My heart is aching with yours! You are so loved by our King of Kings! Praying that you will not be paralyzed & be able to put those beautiful feet one in front of the other Always fixing your eyes on Jesus the prize He always gives his kids what we need when we are cast down It may be a sign of nature, a smile from a stranger & in your life right now His great love from his flock:) Here is a scripture I pray that will comfort you Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the broken hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” I think when we go to heaven Jesus lets us be a part of what He does I see Jesus telling your sister let’s go hang out some stars tonight or I’ll show you how I make it rain, or do you see this beautiful child of mine down on earth they are fixing to accept me as their KING! One time my husband’s best friend died He had no family We searched everywhere for a daughter over seas Got Red Cross involved nothing showed up! During the night the Lord woke us both up He told us we were the ones to prepare for his funeral:) We were so honored to do that for Ed I’m only boasting in my Lord! It was beautiful Tons of tears flooded & we knew we were called for such a time as this! Any of you reading this if you get a nudge or tug on your heart to help anyone use the oil that you have in your house Don’t let the enemy tell you that is stupid,or you don’t have what it takes, or how could I possibly do anything I’ m barely making it Be creative & watch the blessings that will soak you! Love you Glynnis! I will send scud missile prayers up for you & family! Just4Him, Donna
Just wanted to say that I am sorry to hear about your sister. I have only one sibling, a sister, and I can’t imagine how painful that would be. However, I lost my baby daughter eight years ago, and the grief I went through was terrible. I still miss her and wonder what she would have been like now if she had lived. There were many who prayed for me and loved me during that time, and God made himself very real to me. I pray that His peace that passes all understanding will continue to be with you and with your family during this time of grief.
Your family photos are beautiful. I’m so sorry that you have lost your sister. I have a story to go along with your devotional, not about kindess of others during a loss but of kindness of others in crisis…over 15 years ago after a very difficult marriage, I left town in a hurry with the clothes on my back, my infant son in the car seat, heading to the safety of my parents home 8 hours away. I had enough money for gas. A neighbor stopped me as I got in the car. He handed me an envelope full of money. He said he knew what I had been going through and he didn’t want to worry about me driving. He told me his small church collected the money for me (I had never been to this church and knew only him). I protested, but he said, “If you don’t need it, just mail it back when you arrive safe.” So I left. 2 hours down the road, my car broke down, and the cost to repair it was the exact amount of money in that envelope.
Wow – talk about a God-thing. Brought tears to my eyes. God bless…
So sorry for your loss. And so thankful for the support of those around you. I pray I can be that person when needed.
I’m so sorry for your loss, it’s always hard to find the right words because usually there isn’t any. At my young nephew’s funeral, the person who stands out the most in my mind is my friend’s father who just came, stood beside me for the longest time with his arm around my shoulders and said NOTHING. Then he hugged me and left. I can’t hug you but I hope those around you will give you lots! Thanks for sharing your heart with us!
Bags and bundles of sympathy and prayers for you and your family. Family is wonderful, but in a case like that they are going through all the same rough times you are. What do people do who don’t have church family? My husband had cancer and during that rough final year, my pastor and other members of church and of his Lions club would provide transportation for him and “husband sitter” service so I could get some rest. A wonderful neighbor gave me a key to her house so I could get away for a break and still be close to home. God bless them!
I’m so sorry about your sister; I’m praying for you and your family right now. Your story of loving friends and neighbors reminded me of a time long ago when I lost my first baby. Having gone to what was supposed to be a routine 12-week checkup, the doctor found no heartbeat. My husband and I were devastated. We were having trouble conceiving, had waited a long time, and now had to deal with losing our baby. While I just wanted to stay home and mourn my loss, a dear friend came from 2 hours away to spend the day with me. She “forced” me to get out of the house, spend time doing “normal” things, and helped me over the hump of despair. I started healing after that day. Even though I didn’t want to go with her, she knew I needed to get out. I know that God put her there for me! While we now have 2 wonderful children, I look forward to the time when I get to “meet” my first child who is waiting for us in Heaven. Thanks for sharing your story and reminding me of my own “angels” on earth who minister to me on a regular basis! God is good!!
Thank you for sharing your story. We all need Jesus to show up in small ways not just in the big needs. May God bless you and your family and all that you do.
Glynnis: So sorry for your loss and pray God’s peace over your family. I am blessed by your devotion today more than you know. I am also a performance directed person who spent most of my life on the wheel of achievenment and counting my worth by my performance. Jesus is working on my about this and I am slowly coming around to His rest and His guidance in my life. Getting ready to launch a new law firm/ministry to hurting women and seeking further guidance. Thank you for your ministry.
Mary M in VA
Glynnis,
I am so sorry for the loss of your sister. Glad that you and your mom could accomplish that dream of going to Scotland together, and I am warmed by the many gestures of love from the church body around you. Isn’t God’s plan for the church a beautiful thing?
Thinking of you this morning,
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Glynnis, I am so sorry for your loss and will pray that God grants you peace in your heart much like Jesus did in the garden. I am slowly and quickly at the same time coming to the realization that I need so much of God, now more than ever. I am a full-time mom of 2 boys–a wonderful 1st grader and 1 year old, grad-student, wife, full-time working and helping to take care of my parents needs as they grow older. My works are often a blur and what used to be for me a joy to organize and plan, is now sometimes a burden. I am overwhelmed, exhausted, and sleep-deprived. I know that it is during these times that I need to rely on God so much more than ever, because I know that my own strength is failing. I am always encouraged by your blogs and am grateful that I am not the only woman out there struggling to bring chaos into a happy place. Thank you for your ministry! Bonnie M (Albuquerque, NM)
Im so sorry for your loss! My crazy months that seem to flash by are Sept. & Oct., theses are family birthdays. Keeping my eyes focused on Jesus keeps my panicking to a minimum. Thank you for being transparent.i believe i could greatly benefit from this book.
Thank you so much for writing today Glynnis! My father-in-law passed away last Tues. after a very brief 6 week period. We also experienced the loving arms of Jesus in many of our friends as they just sent an email asking how we were doing, or by their phone calls and hugs when we saw each other. Their concern and kindness helped us get thru the days of anticiporyed grief and worry about what the doctors were not able to ‘fix’. Meals were brought over and errands were ran by our very dear friends as we visited with him at home and then at the hospital.
Praying for you in your grief,
Karen
I’m sorry for your loss. But like so many others have stated I’m thankful God to lean on and those who have God like spirit about them too. I couldn’t have made it through the last year with out both of them. We had several family tragedies without my roots being planted in God we don’t know what we would of done.
We also pastor a church, so this wasn’t something we could share with everyone. Besides we had to be there for our saints and what they were going through. Being the only members inthe ministry , the family kept turning to us for help guidance and what to do next. Sometimes my husband and I and our immediate family like we would crumble under all the STRESS!!!!!
I remember crying out (literally) time after time asking God to send me a prayer partner. Someone who would understand and I could go to as my confident. God blessed me with a dear friend who would pray, encourage time and time again. She is a true Woman of God. I thank God for her daily in my life.
I pray that I can help be that person or nutrue others to be there too. God Bless you and praying for you and your family at this time.
My heart goes out to you in the loss of your sister … I well remember the many, many days of helplessly trying to just focus on a simple task after my grandson died. People said “just take it one day at a time” … ha … I had to struggle to get thru one hour at a time. Praise God for His faithfulness! Hugs and Love and Prayers!
Janet
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Glynnis, keep your sister close to your heart in your memories. I’ve felt the loving arms of Jesus in your blog today. I’m struggling in my marriage and having a hard time staying strong and keeping my self worth. However after reading your blog I felt that Jesus was speaking to me directly in your words. I must step outside my comfort zone of what I want and fully trust Jesus in his direction. I may not understand why things happen but I must trust that he has a message in it for me. I’ve been afraid to fully give it to God because I wasn’t sure I’d like the direction he took me, but I must summon my faith to know that he has a plan and that he knows best regardless of my personal feelings.
Your words have touched me in a way I can’t explain and I feel lighter in reading them, I feel as if God was poking me to alert me to the fact he’s been front and center all along and I have to look through my personal pain to see him. Despite what may happen in my marriage I will always have him.
Thanks so much for sharing. It is so great to have Christians around for support but Jesus gives us the peace and strength to make it through those kind of times. We’ve had sort of a rough time lately too but the book sounds great. God bless you for being so open with us all.
Denise
My prayers are with you in the loss of your sister. The encouragement I appreciate most in those times is a friend with a cup of coffee and listening ear.
So sorry for your loss. I lost my husband 2 1/2 years ago, very unexpectedly. My church family (and my own family) wrapped their arms around me and showed Christ’s love in so many ways. They helped our family through a very difficult time. I look back and see how the Lord carried me through and held me up.
Glynnis, I am praying for you & your family! It is so true that during these times, what really means the most are the small tangible ways that others demonstrate the love of God to us. A couple of days ago, I had a really rough and wild day with my little ones, and a very sweet friend who has even been sick lately came to my rescue with a Coke & french fries. It is so precious to have people who care for you in the largest and smallest of ways…and in the heart-wrenching days and the days that just find us exhausted. Praying for more people to be there to show you love as you continue to gain traction. My heart goes out to you!
I am so sorry to hear if your loss. I pray that God will continue to comfort you and your family during this difficult time. My mother has pancreatic cancer and we know she will not be with us in the distant future but she has been such a blessing to me. Just watching how she handles her cancer and knowing that our Lord Jesus Christ is with us all the way is such a blessing. She is so happy that she is going to be with her heavenly father very soon and that brings so much comfort to all of us.
Linda – May the peace of the Lord rest on your mother, you and your family in these hard final days. And I’m praying your mother is pain free. What faith she must have. I know her attitude will stay with you and change you for the rest of your life.
Thinking and praying for you and your family at this time of loss.
It’s time like this that we need our friends, those Godly woman! When we were having marriage problems I had two friends that prayed for me and spoke God’s wisdom to my heart! I believe they were put into my life to save my marriage. Praise the Lord!!
Glynnis,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I think I may understand what you are going through. I am in a season of loss right now, have been for about a year or so, and I know it is a very sad place to be. I know that I am only making it through this time because Jesus is walking alongside of me every single step of the way, just as He is walking with you. There is a brilliant light at the end of my tunnel, I am looking forward to the day I get to step into that light. Until then, I will keep you in my prayers.
Karen
Go to http://www.griefshare.org to find helpful information and/or a support group that meets near you. I have been attending their series of meetings at a local church in my area after the death of my father in law this past summer and it is truly very helpful in processing my grief.
So beautiful to hear how you saw Jesus in your friends acts of service during a very challenging raw time for you. We walked a very similar journey this summer losing my mother-in-law to pancreatic cancer. Jesus ministered to us as well in the most simple acts of providing food, looking after the kids, just being with us and loving us. A sweet reminder to me that I don’t have to all the words when comforting others or ministering to them, I just need to be obedient and follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit. May you continue to see reminders of God’s love and care for you as you continue along this journey of healing.
My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. I feel your pain. I feel it more as it makes me very angry whenever I hear someone passed away because the diagnosis was delayed. I manage a cancer diagnostic lab. The reason I chose this profession was because of my aunt’s diagnosis of hepatic lymphoma and I had taken it on the challenge I will find a cure for cancer. Now almost 18 years in the field not even close to it. But let me give you my encounter with Jesus. My husband had a stroke 2 years ago. He lost functionality on his left side. He didn’t lose his sense of humor, memory and speech. 12 years before this incident he had made friends with a pastor in Australia where he was studying for hospitality management. This pastor friend during one of the prayer meetings had prayed over my husband and thanked God for giving him the responsibility of my husband. Now for past 18 months we are living with them. The pastor and his family take care of him while I go to work. While my husband was in the rehab I got a new job 65 miles away from our home. We had to move. The youth from the church and other volunteers just took care of packing, storing and settling us. To add to all that two months ago I needed surgery for suspicions of ovarian cancer. After surgery this family again took care of my husband and me. The whole church family got together took turns cooking, providing moral support to my husband as he wasn’t taking it well. Jesus just loved me so much and proved all tests and suspicions wrong and gave me a clean bill of health. I will praise His name as long as I have breath.
Thank you for sharing your story and please know that you are surrounded by your readers prayer for comfort and peace for you and your family.
When I read about someone being Jesus in a hard time, I instantly thought of my husband. I was not on the receiving end, but on the observing end. Two of our good friends were in a horrible accident (a car hit them as they were walked down the street to their car at night after a festival). She passed away 1 month ago today. He was hospitalized several days and endured several surgeries. The day after the accident my husband drove to the hospital (2 1/2 hrs from our home) and stayed with our friend. For days and days my husband was the aid, food orderer, communicator, pillow fluffer, and above all comforter – as our friend found out the news of his fiance’ going home to be with Jesus. (she was in a different hospital). We all felt the loss, but our friend also gained a renewed faith in God that he is sharing will all he meets. He praises my husband for being there when others couldn’t. I say, he was our friend’s Jesus.
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss and difficult times with your family. Prayers go out to you. I love the idea of living a less stressed filled life.
I am so sorry for your loss of your sister. My first husband died in a car accident when we were 35 and also left me with a huge host of legal and financial problems. One of my dear friends was Jesus to me by calling every couple days and listening to me. I once asked her why she kept calling to listen to what I hated living it and talking about and she said “Because I love you and I don;t know how else to help”. It was priceless.
Glynnis,
I am so sorry for the loss of your dear sister. I pray that God will continue to comfort you and your family. I know that I am only making it through my season of loss, because Jesus is right here with me every single moment of every day. He is there walking along side you as well. I lost my father in December of 2010, in the midst of dealing with our oldest daughter’s cancer, who passed away just 11 months later, leaving 4 young daughters. They also lost their father 3 months prior to our daughter’s death. Our 3 other daughters, like you, lost their dear sweet big sister. I would love to try a stressed free life, as we are raising her 4 young girls at this time. So many acts of kindness are so appreciated. I am so thankful for my church family and special sister in Christ who has also lost a daughter.
This is a duplicate as I forgot my info when I submitted my post.
Glynnis,
I am so sorry for the loss of your dear sister. I pray that God will continue to comfort you and your family. I know that I am only making it through my season of loss, because Jesus is right here with me every single moment of every day. He is there walking along side you as well. I lost my father in December of 2010, in the midst of dealing with our oldest daughter’s cancer, who passed away just 11 months later, leaving 4 young daughters. They also lost their father 3 months prior to our daughter’s death. Our 3 other daughters, like you, lost their dear sweet big sister. I would love to try a stressed free life, as we are raising her 4 young girls at this time. So many acts of kindness are so appreciated. I am so thankful for my church family and special sister in Christ who has also lost a daughter.
My heart goes out to you at the loss of your dear sister. Your words have been a source of inspiration & encouragement to many & I pray that you find comfort from the many kind words & prayers offered up for you today. Yes, as you wrote, we do “need each other to follow Jesus’ example … to step into each other’s pain, to reach out and touch with kindness, and sometimes to just show up and grieve alongside us.” What an inspiring lesson.
For me 4 red mum plants left by a neighbor was a moment to remember Jesus is in the details. Bemoaning a newly diagnosed disease that has stripped me of my physical energy & a precarious financial situation, I became totally unglued about not being able to even spruce up my house. That afternoon those 4 potted mums arrived….2 for hanging spots on porch, 1 for container & 1 for hanging spot on deck. Exactly what I desired. My faith has gotten me through a life-threatening illness, 2 major job losses & a husband’s cancer & through it He has brought people along those paths to provide help/support, people who “chose to act like Jesus”. My greatest desire is to be able to provide that Jesus’ love to others as best as I’m able. To show someone that Jesus’ love can even be found in the simple & ordinary. Something like 4 red mums.
Thanks for sharing your heart/your story….you are a blessing to us!
Glynnis,
I pray for peace for you and your family as you grieve over the loss of your precious sister. When I lost my mom to cancer over twenty years ago, I remember the friends and family that just sat with me and listened to me and were just “there” with me were Jesus to me. Just being still sometimes and not busying yourself with all of life’s distractions can be the most calming and renewing thing to do. After all, He wants us to come to Him and just be in His presence!
My heart and prayers are with you and your family. I am in an overwhelming stage of my life and I see Jesus in the people he has brought into my life, even if for a small moment. I hope and pray for peace and comfort through God’s love for you and your family.
Glynnis, may God continue to bring comfort to you and your family. Even in the midst of grief and pain, God works wonders in our lives through the hands of His children. We lost my sister-in-law 3 1/2 years ago to a careless driver who crossed the center line and hit her head on and she was killed instantly. She had been a major part of our family for over 26 years and a wonderful sister in Christ. Over and over again, people reached out to our family with hugs, words of comfort, food, and just being there. You are so right that we need to be Jesus to someone when they are going through a difficult situation. Thank you for sharing from your heart.
I just wanted to say this was right on time for me! My job has really been hectic lately only to get worse….the performance measures and I (we all at work) feel even if do a good job it is still not enough. Folks writing each other up behind your back so it is very hostile. So I feel sometimes like I have to be ‘perfect’. So on my quest to be perfect and get to work extra early..I get rear-ended so not going to get to work on time. I wanted to bust out in tears with everything (gained wt too another failure) but I didn’t. I texted my brother all the happenings and he guided me back to reality. “Did you praise God?” He reminded me God is still to be praised amidst hurt frustrations etc. He told me to read Deuteronomy 8 so I will today….I came out unscathed!!!! Then I came home and read your devotional! How on time! I thank God for people who set our faces back to Christ Jesus! YAAAAAAY!
Your devotional really spoke to my heart today. I was homeschooled, but I can relate to all of it, especially once I started college. I bound up a lot of my worth in my grades, and I still struggle with that perfectionism today. I feel like I have to do everything perfectly or not at all, and I’m really trying to get to the place where I can just do my best and rest in the knowledge that I did what I could, and leave the rest up to God. I’m so sorry about your loss; my thoughts and prayers are with you. God bless!
My prayers are with you and your family at this time.
I live on a very limited income and being a diabetic I have to have fruit and vegetables but sometimes I just can’t afford them. Last year, at Christmas time, the choir director from my church handed me an envelope. In it was $125 in cash and $325 in grocery gift cards that members of the choir had given. It was the nicest thing that anyone had ever done for me and it was definitely love in action.
Thank you Glynnis for sharing what’s been going on with you for the past few months. This morning has been a challenge for me… who am I kidding, the last 3 years have been a challenge for me, but God used you to show me that we all go through things and that we can get through anything as long as Jesus is the captain of our ship. I’m struggling to see Jesus in the conflict of life. But I know He’s there and He has never left me. Thank you for being real. God is truly using you to touch the lives of others and let them know they are not alone. I appreciate you and everyone at P31. I’d love to win the book. Sounds like just what the doctor ordered.
In the arms of Jesus,
Yolanda
So sorry to hear about the loss of your sister. It is never easy. I lost both of my parents in 2001, 6 months apart. My mother died on Christmas day – what a wonderful day to go home to the Lord. It was a really hard time but the love and help of friends and family carried us through. After all it is what we are called to do. Mourn with those who are mourning.
Dear Glynnis, One time I read a book on grieving In the book it said that in Ethiopia that when a person looses a loved one the community gathers & takes grain & fruit to them for a year:) Oh my goodness Then when the 1st year anniversary date shows up they all gather together & celebrate that life for the victory that the lost one has found:) In most cases( not all people) say after 3 days get over it, move on
So sad Each of us go through those 5 stages Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, finally Acceptance I will ask Jesus to take you through gently & that you will feel his touch all day & night long:) You are so loved by many Glynnis but Jesus loves you the most I will pray sleep & protection @ night Seems like that is when the enemy tries to rattle our cages for the past daylight hours May he lead you to the quiet still waters where you will be healed of sorrow We are praying fervently!
Dear Glynnis,
I always read your devotional emails and your blogs. I have followed your ideas about being clutter free since January, and I also click on your page when I am in the Proverbs 31 website. I say this because you inspire me like you say that your sisters inspired you, and it makes me sad that your sister passed. I was following her health development in your emails, and I cannot imagine your sorrow at this moment. My prayer right now is with you and your family for peace!
A special time when I felt Jesus’ presence via friends is when I had a premature baby almost 6 years ago. After a very difficult pregnancy and 2 months hospitalized my boy was born 10 weeks early with birth difficulties. I was in very poor health, with blood transfusions and low levels in my blood work, I could not move ahead, and I fell into a depressions. I will never forget what my Sunday school teacher’s wife told me when she took me to the hospital daily to see my baby in NICU. I felt bad because I could not pray, and she assured me that in those moments all my friends and church members were praying for me and holding me up, and that God was not upset for my lack of faith and hope and lack of prayers. I truly felt what the Christian lyrics on a current song say about: Jesus in disguise”.
Blessings to you and our family.
Thank you for sharing your story with us, Glynnis. My heart goes out to you and your family with the loss of your sister. Take the time you need to grieve. It will help you get your “footing” back sooner that way. I’m so very sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing a little bit of how she touched your life. She knew what was important – family! Prayers for God’s comfort and Presence to lift you up.
My heart goes out to you in the loss of your sister. I know how difficult it was when we lost our father and as I am a twin, I don’t know how I would handle the loss of my sister. Praying for you during this time. My daughter has been Jesus to me here, lately. She has been making me meals so that I don’t have to come home and think about cooking after working many hours.
Glynnis,
What a great loss. I am deeply saddened at the passing of your sister. I fully understand what it means to be unable to get any traction under your feet. You said it perfectly. I had to read your message twice for it to sink in as to what I just read. I cannot stop the tears. I will be praying for you and your family during this very difficult time. Louise
Thank you for having the courage to share all your losses with us. My deepest sympathies to you & your family. I have been dealing with a friend who is dying from cancer/lupus, a husband who just had surgery on Monday & my grandmother being very ill. If not for my girlfriends I would never make it through the day without their prayers, texts & emails! I would love to have 1 “normal” day.
Glynnis,
I understand your pain. It’s so hard to hand a loved one over to God. I was very angry when my mother died, but wise young pastor told me….. “As much as your mother loved you, she had rather be where she is now”. It took awhile for me to reason that out, but he was so right. Who wouldn’t want to be sitting with Jesus in Heaven???
You are a blessing to many of us who read your blog. Thank you!!!
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. Our community has has some sudden deaths and diagnosis in the past two months. They have affected me in a huge way. I lost my mother-in-law that I had taken care of for 11 years in 2010. It has been the hardest thing to recover from. Their have been several people that have come into my life and helped me to recover from my grief. Don’t get me wrong. She is better off than staying on this earth and suffering. That part doesn’t bother me. I just feel like their is a huge part of me missing. What is my purpose? I know God has something amazing planned for my life. I just don’t know what yet. I am trying to listen closely to his still small voice as I continue to live my life thru loving my family, and serving others thru my volunteer work. I will lift you in my prayers for comfort and peace for you and your family during this time of grief.
Prayers for you and your family. Death is never easy. Neither is experiencing hard times. Over the past 3 1/2 years, my family has dealt with major changes, and we have had to FROG (Fully Rely on God)! Your devotions have been a blessing to me and I have learned to trust completely. Thank you for your willingness to share your most intimate thoughts and feelings. God Bless You.
I am so sorry for your loss. My family had a very similiar situation happen to my aunt this year. She went to the Dr who sent her to an oncologist and before they could even diagnose that it was lung cancer (less than 2 weeks) she had passed away. I am glad that your friends have been so supportive of you in this difficult time. Hope that they will continue to support and pray since it is not an easy thing to get over and seems so much harder when it is so unexpected.
Dear Glynnis,
I was so blessed by your devotion today. I’m always amazed at how God sends exactly the right person to send exactly the message I need to hear at exactly the time I need it most. I am so exhausted I can hardly see straight (literally, my eyes are that tired). I love working for God, but I also need to spend more time resting, relaxing and enjoying the blessings He has given me. May God bless you in a new and exciting way today, with something so amazing you can hardly believe it’s true!
Love in Christ,
Stefany
Dear Glynnis,
Your devotion today was a spot on blessing for me. Thank you for that. I am so sorry for the loss of your dear sister. I know that we have that assurance of our loved ones being with Jesus, but it is that left behind part that stings so. You and your family will be in my prayers. I was so blessed by reading how others blessed you during this time. I had a mini epiphany the other day about loving in life. I desire to fully love as much as I possibly can, and reading of how people reached out to you inspired me. I had realized a while ago that although I am living a blessed life, I have been bogged down by the stress of so much. I need to be blessing more than worrying. Thank you.
Glynnis I so enjoy reading your devotionals, you are a blessing to so many. Thank you for sharing with honesty and humility. Your message today was just what I needed. My new husband (we married Sept 1st) has been diagnosed with high blood pressure. I have been reading about diet and exercise, but this morning I encouraged him to slow down and pray when the stress of work gets bad. I know Jesus wants us to call upon Him. He is our comforter and will take our stresses upon Himself and give us rest.
I was saddened to hear of your sister’s passing. I will pray for God’s gentle touch and love to surround you and your family,
God Bless you,
Karen Simpson
When my 4-month-old had an unexpected trip to the ER and subsequent hospital stay, God’s hand was everywhere from someone just driving by the house who saw the ambulance and let our good friends know, to those who watched our older son, to a friendly face who just “happened” to be at the ER. And of course, the fact that he’s perfectly fine now. God is great!
Glynnis, I’m so sorry to hear about your sister. The fact that you are faithful to us in your devotions blows me away in the midst of dealing with everything you’re handling now. I finished your book I Used to Be So Organized, and it was such a blessing. I intend to re-read it again really soon.
I would say that my church stood in as Jesus for us when we were in the midst of dealing with losing our house and trying to decide if bankruptcy was the answer for us. We were surrounded by some wonderful people that extended a hand of help and love. They walked with us and we are forever impacted for that. That Christmas when money was tight an anonymous person blessed not only our 2 young sons but my husband, myself, and my mom who lives with us with an abundance of gifts. It was the most amazing generousity we had ever experienced.
So sorry to hear about your sister. I lost my aunt in March to cancer – and these past several months really do seem like a blur.
So very sorry for your loss.
I also wanted to say I am so very sorry for the loss of your sister. I will be praying for you and your family as well. I can’t imagine how devastating that loss is. Thank you for your blog, it has touched my heart so many times. Jesus is definitely speaking through you to many!
First I am so sorry about your loss. It is a true blessing to know that others care and help to serve you and your family in the time of need. I will never forget several years my Dad (who has passed since) had triple by pass heart surgery in Asheville, NC which was 4 hours away from our home. The very 1st night there a stranger knocked on our hotel room door. Of course we were a little leery not knowing anyone there since we were from out of town. It was a very dear sweet lady who gave us a card and said she would be praying for us and to let her know if we needed anything at all. This was just amazing and humbling; and very much needed. Also, today I am a little stressed feeling at work; been very busy and tomorrow my sister in law is getting married. Then they are having a reception in two weeks that we will be going to and helping with. Next weekend is the EWomen’s Conference that I will be attending with my sister. I am very thankful for my close family. You just know that we are praying for you and your family at this time. “Keep looking up, God is looking down”.
Friends & family at our local church are truly the hands & feet of Jesus. Meals, phone calls, texts, odd jobs…anything that is asked is covered by them being Him. It is such a blessing.
Oh Glynnis
I am so very sorry! Saying a prayer for you….the rollercoaster of grief is a ride no one gets to skip. Thankful for your great trip and special bond as a family!!
The teachers in my son’s lives are more than a blessing. Having my sons with someone that loves them like a mother and treats them like their own is such a reassurance to this working momma. Knowing that their teachers not only love them but pray over them and teach them about Jesus blesses my heart every day.
Wow! May our beautiful, loving, tender Jesus fill your days with His presence and strength.
My heart and soul cry out to the Lord for you and your family. So much loss surrounding so many people these past few months. May our Jesus who is so full of compassion and love bring comfort to your souls and peace to you hearts. Your devotion struck a chord in my heart as they usually do and I’m amazed at your ability to continue to encourage others through your suffering. Truly a God given gift and I thank you for sharing your heart with us and being transparent. The truth of us needing one another to be the Lords hands and shoulders is what He is teaching me. How and when to speak a word of comfort or a quick text to say Im thinking of you or to drop off a plate of warm scones to a lonely neighbbor….to be Jesus to a hurting world!
Glynnis–
YOU have been a touch of Jesus to me, my sister. When I miscarried my pregnancy at the beginning of this year, you prayed for me and encouraged me to have faith that His Plan is always right.
Now, it is my turn to offer prayer for you, and I will be honored to do so.
Heavenly Father, please pour out Your blessings of peace and comfort on my dear sister Glynnis in her time of grief and stress. Things will never be the same–but, with Your help, we learn to live in a new way. Only You can help heal the empty place inside when we miss that loved one so much. Comfort this family with Your truth–they will see her again, and what a glorious time that will be! In Jesus’ Precious Name. Amen.
I will continue to keep you in my prayers. Your work has blessed me greatly!
Carissa in eastern Iowa
Oh Glynnis! My heart and prayers go out to you! May you find ways to celebrate her life and glory in thoughts of her dancing with Jesus on streets of gold! Thanking God for the saints and angels that ministered to you in this time.
Sending love and sympathy to you and your family!
My church family was Jesus to me when I had cancer last year and went thru Chemo treatments for 18 weeks. They brought meals 3x/week for months, cleaned our house, watched our kids and drove me to treatments. I never felt so much of God’s love!!!!
So, so sorry to hear about your sister! I lost my baby brother suddenly on May 2, just 2 weeks before he turned 36. He collapsed while playing basketball and couldn’t be revived. He left behind a wife, a 4 year old son, and almost 1 year old daughter. It has been very difficult for everyone to move on…holidays and birthdays are hardest. I am comforted by the fact that he is in heaven with Jesus, waiting for us to join him one day.
Sorry to hear of your loss. I will be praying for you and your family. I know when I lost my mother-in-law a little over a year ago it really made me stop and think. A combination of her death, financial and health issues in my family and one of my friend’s moving out of state really caused me to stop and take stock what is important in life. I found that I was fighting a battle within myself that only God could resolve and lift me out of. Thankfully, I had a pastor and some ladies who lifted me up in prayer and helped me walk the path I was on. I also have a very patient husband who has been there for me through it all even as he fought some of his own battles. God is faithful. He see us through the good and the bad. He is always with us when we stop and let him carry the load.
Thank you for sharing your testimony! I am thankful God has put people in your path who have supported you through this journey. Your posts always resonate with me at this stage in my life. They speak life into me and help me to stay focused on the important things of life.
God Bless!
Glynnis, I lost my dad in July to cancer. My sympathies & prayers go out to you and your family. Truly, my biggest comfort is knowing where he now resides. Much love to you!
God bless you,Glynnis for being such an encourager to others during your difficult time!
An older lady was Jesus to me when I was going through a devastating event. I was in my late 20s and married to my high school sweethard. One day he left me without warning. I was devastated and far away from family and friends. God placed this sweet lady with me who had been through the same thing many years earlier. God always provides!
My sympathy and prayers go out to you in your loss. We lost my father one year ago yesterday, and people were so kind to bring food at the time. It has been extremely difficult for my mom to lose her mate of 62 years. She has been very dependent upon me in just about every way. You hear of people drowning while trying to rescue someone because the drowning person grabs onto the rescuer and drags them down. At times I’ve felt that way.
Thankfully, a friend in Bible study went through the same thing with her mother. She was so kind to invite Mom, a couple of friends, and me to lunch yesterday. At this point I don’t know if Mom will ever recover from the loss, but it helps to know that others been walked this path and can empathized.
Philippians 4:6 always gets me through the difficult times. Praise and glory to God.
With love and sympathy to you and your family Glynnis.
Blessings
“As Always”
Kara
First of all, Glynnis, I am so very sorry to hear of the death of your sister! I pray that you and your family will feel God’s comfort and peace in the coming days and months and years. I can’t imagine how any of you feel…may you also feel the love of family and friends.
I am going through a hard time too–nowhere near as devastating as what you are but my life has been turned upside down. What has helped so much is knowing people are praying for me…I can feel their strength and know it’s why I am getting through this. One of the most encouraging things is a cousin who is texting me a Bible verse every morning. It is encouraging and comforting, of course, to know that she is thinking of me, and God’s Word always speaks to me as well.
Take care!
Thank you for sharing even in your loss. I am thankful for the body of Christ reaching out to my family 2 years ago when I was experiencing a difficult pregnancy and the sudden death of my father. People gave us financial gifts to fly our family home for the memorial and brought us meals for what seemed like the whole year.
A little booklet also has been so helpful called, Experiencing Grief, by H. Norman Wright. I have been encouraged by the scripture and biblical counsel on loss. I have given it to so many others who are grieving. My thoughts and prayers are for your family today.
May God give you what you need each day!
Christy
Lynn Graham,
Glynnis, sympathy and prayers go out to you. I’m sorry about the loss of your sister. I lost my dad to COPD. he passed away 11/23/2010. what made it so hard for me was thatthey live in New Jersey and I live in Nebraska. nobody in my family told me he was that sick on a respirator for 2 weeks. then I get a call from my sister saying dad passed away. I couldn’t get to see him one more time.couldn’t even go to the funeral. so I have been grieving alone by myself and that has caused me stress. I’m just hoping I win this book. I don’t have the money to buy the book. Glynnis, God bless you and wish you all the best in your future books.
Glynnis praying with u and for u in the loss of ur sister. I know cancer firsthand. We list my mother in-law died in August and the next week our one and only child our son committed suicide. So much grief. So many people have been the hands and feet of Jesus this entire month. I too have been blessed for sweet people at my work at church filling in for me. So many Gid surprises of love has been showered on us.
Blessings and prayers
Cindy
I am new to your blog and have enjoyed the few entries I have gotten so far. I am so sorry to hear about your sister’s passing as I have three sisters and can’t imagine losing one of them. You described it well when you said you can’t get tread under your feet. When we have lost loved ones, I always wonder how the world just keeps going even though we in the midst of such grief, but God is there carrying us through. Thanks so much for your entry today. I am studying Genesis this year and we just started. We focused on the order God created the earth and I am trying to get back that order into my life as well. Blessings.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
I think because we are women and that God has hard-wired our brains to “take care of everyone”, our lives are by nature chaotic (especially if you have small children at home!). I am the coordinator of a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group at our church, and our theme this year is connecting with other moms–REALLY connecting and forming lasting friendships in the midst of the chaos of motherhood. What you said about putting projects before the dishes is right on and is something I and the other ladies in our group are trying to be intentional about. Your friend Tracie’s book sounds just like something we need to hear! I will be ordering a copy to give away in the group and a copy for myself!
I am usually the “don’t need any help” type-person, and recently, God allowed a knee injury to wake me up and slow me down. He blessed me with my friends who showed the love of Jesus when they brought me meals, drove my child to school, and cleaned my house. I am so thankful for them and for the lesson He has shown me!
God bless you and your ministry!
I will be praying for your family and the loss of your sister. Your Prov 31 devo really resonated with me today. I also try so hard to be the best, to the point of perfection. Am I trying to be perfect for God is the question that comes to mind? Am I a Martha? Many times I would have to admit that I am…when I should be slowing down and sitting at the Master’s feet… thanks for the reminder today. Blessings.
Dear Glynis!! My heart is with and your family, i share your tears and i know that your sister is with our besutigul father… Be blessed i am praying for you thanks for sharing I am sending you my hugsxxx
So sorry to hear of your loss. This has been a hard year for my family too, but ours weren’t so unexpected. My Granddad died in March, my step dad in July, & now my Grandmother is in the hospital. I am pretty much home bound. My Daddy took me to see my Granddad & Dad and then to their funerals. However, he is facing knee surgery so not up to a 3 1/2 hour drive one way. When my cousin’s husband found out there was no way for me to be able to see Grandmother, he found a way to make it happen. They were up here last weekend & collected me, my wheelchair, etc. and took me home with them. Not only was it a blessing to be able to see Grandmother, but I got to spend time with family (especially the little boys & “puppies”), & Daddy & I had a break from each other as well.
First, I am so sorry for your loss. I have just stumbled on your site and have found it meeting me where I am. I am the mother of 5 ranging in age from 19 to 4 months. My last pregnancy was an extremely difficult one mentally. I suffered from Pregnancy Induced Anxiety. Having never had as much as morning sickness with my four other pregnancies, this left me fearful and floundering. My mother and my dear friend became Jesus to me in a very real way. Along with my husband, they took each of my fears and addressed them in tangible ways, from helping to organize to staying up all night with me and praying. It was a tough year through multiple losses of friends’ babies to the suicide of one of my older children’s friends. It was so hard to see Christ in the midst of the stormy weather but with the steadfastness of sweet family and friends, it has become a beautiful day!
Dear Glynnis,
I am very sorry about your sister. The only relief we can get from loosing our loved ones is knowing that they will be with Jesus. They are going to be in a better world than we are right now. I always enjoy reading your blog, you are such an inspiration to me. I lost my uncle and my aunt within 2 months apart. How can you deal with the second grief when you have not even healed from the 1st grief. God is so great in healing and reminding us to live and cherish each and every day by loving and enjoying our loved ones. God Bless you and your family.
Carole
Thank you for sharing your personal story. A great reminder that life is a journey that we do not want to live with out Jesus. So many times he has brought me through to the other side of some very hard life issues. I know you will find peace as I have through HIM and the people he sends along our path.
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your sister. There are no words I can say to help heal that. But I will pray for you. I pray that God will wrap His arms around you life you up.
Blessings,
Kristen
I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
I started following your blog after you wrote a devotion about bring a mom and how crazy it can be at times. Thank you for being such a great woman of God and inspire others to be as well! I do think God definitely uses the tough times to strengthen our relationship with him and bring us closer to him. Thank you again for your encouraging devotions
Wow! It has been a journey for you and your family. I will keep you in my prayers. There was stuff that I have been going thru for quite some time. I didnt know how I was gonna get over the hump. I know I will and left it for Jesus to handle. We go thru life not knowing what will be thrown at us. It could thrown at us little at a time or even all at once. Half the time we dont realize what people are going thru. We basically judge the book by the cover. We have to show love and give love regardless who comes into our life. Like you have said to show the love of Jesus. It was a powerful message and thank u for sharing especially during this hard time. I see that he will mold you to be anawesome
On August 16th I woke up in the middle of a week off with my 9 year old son, checked my email after breakfast and a shower to find my husband had sent me an email saying he wanted a divorce – yes an email. I stayed strong for my son, but I was falling apart inside. I knew we did not have a perfect marriage, but divorce? I called my co-teachers to tell them what was going on (I’m a teacher in a prison) and I went to work on Monday. I was so out of it, I didn’t realize how unsafe I was in such an unsafe place to begin with. My co-teachers love me enough to have an intervention with me along with my boss (who is also my friend) and said – go take care of what you need to take care of and get well – take as long as you need “we’ll pick up the slack for you”. These co-teachers (friends really) have been so supportive and taken such good care of me over the past 7 weeks as my life has fallen apart. I have a renewed strength from their support. They have really been Jesus to me!!!
Angie – I’m not able to respond to all comments today, but I wanted to respond to yours. I wanted to remind you that you are chosen and pursued by your heavenly Father. He will never turn away, grow tired of you or long for another. He wholly longs for you. Rest in that knowledge. You are loved. In His love, Glynnis
I am so blessed by your blog and pray that the Lord Himself will hold you and your family so tightly in His arms during this difficult time. I pray that He will will be your peace, comfort, and calm- He is sufficient in EVERYTHING. God bless and keep you and yours, Glynnis. In His love, Dawn
Glynnis,
I’m so sorry for the loss of your sister. Our community is struggling to understand and deal with a 10 year old girl who was diagnosed a year and a half ago with bone cancer. She’s fought with all she has and been the picture of grace and strength. Her family’s faith in God has been inspiring. After recently having her leg amputated to try to save her life, the doctors discovered new inoperable tumors in both lungs. We are just putting our trust that God will work it all out and praying hard for a miracle, but all the while, the community has pulled together with tremendous love and support for the family and each other and it has been very moving.
Sorry to hear of your loss. We walk this road of grief together. It has been a tough year of loss for me as I’ve lost my mother-in-law in April, one aunt in June and another aunt in August. Even through all the losses, God is faithful and there have been many people who have stepped up when I needed help. Take care and thanks for sharing.
My concerns seem so small, when I think of you losing a precious sister. May you feel God’s peace & presence at this time. Adjusting to “semi-retirement” and desiring to follow God’s leading for my life, I do get anxious. I am grateful for precious sisters in Christ. The love they have shown me is truly Christ-like, and Christ-inspired.
May you know the comfort of God’s loving arms. I know the loss of a sister – have lost two.Treasure the memories.
Thank you, Glynnis for the wonderful post. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I thought about you and your post off and on today and said a prayer for you and your family.
Glynnis,
My heart goes out to you and your family!
I am praying for God to wrap his loving arms around you all!!
Diana
I am so sorry for the way your summer turned out, loosing someone you love, and hanging in to write us encouragment.
Lisa
Thinking of you and your family during this time. I am encouraged by your desire to continue following God. Cherish the wonderful memories and yes, definitely put into practice the wonderful knowledge you gained from your sister. Thank you for all you do for the Kingdom!!
So sorry for your loss. I lost my sister 2 years ago to cancer and it was very hard. So many things go on in my house, there is never a dull moment. I am learning to rely on God more and more to get through everything.
So sorry for your loss. I lost my mom to cancer 9 years ago. Sometimes it just seems like yesterday. I still miss her, but am so glad her suffering is over and she’s rejoicing in heaven with Jesus.
Glynnis,
I’m SO sorry to hear of your loss. I hope your mom is doing okay.
Having others just check in on your during the hard times for me is how they are being Jesus to me and I try to do that for others so I can show them Jesus too.
It is hard to lose a loved one and know you will not see them, talk to them or enjoy their presence. It is our joy though to celebrate their life as a memorial to all they meant us. Our times are in His hands and He knows when we need to leave this earth to enter into His glory. We are not of this world and have the joy and peace that His presence is where we are meant to live. I lost my father five years ago and each time I visit my home, it is hard as he is not there. My sisters in the Lord were so good to give me time to process this grief but to also fellowship and give me love and encouragement from the Word. It is now with a grateful heart that I look forward to the time when I meet my earthly father in heaven and to realize how much my real home is with the heavenly Abba Father. May God bless you with peace as you deal with the grief and loss of your beloved older sister. Thank you for all your words and messages you send to me to help me focus on the Lord.
I’ve never been a recepiant of such love but would love to be one who gives by being available & one who listens. I’m sorry for the pain for you & yours.
Glynnis,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of you dear sister. Praying for comfort and peace for you and your family.
I am so sorry to hear about thr loss of your sister. I know what it feels like to loss a sibling. I lost my only brother 6 years ago and I miss him as much today as I did then. There is so much happening in my life and every time something new happens I want to pick up the phone and share it with him. But he is not there. Holidays are coming and Thanksgiving was the time he would come home with his family and we would sit around and remember our good times growing up with our parents. This year his children and grandchildren and my sister-in-law plan to come. So maybe we are starting a new tradition and we will sit around and talk about our good times with him. Continue doing what you are doing and being a bless to all of us who read your blog. May God Bless you and your family and especially your sister’s family. Peace and Love!!
When my dad was killed in a traffic accident, his church family fed 20 of us for five days, and the only thing we ever had to buy was milk. We experienced a great outpouring of love and compassion.
glynnis, you live life with such intention and are such an example to me. Though as the mother to 5 children, wife to a husband who travels internationally 2 weeks of every month, and a contractor who recently began accepting assignments again I certainly have stress events in my life, I would love to win this book for my friend who is a single mom of 2 including one with angelman’s disease. Her life defines stress in ways many of us could not possibly imagine! She is a treasure and few people know, but she is STRESSED!
God bless you and your family as you both celebrate and mourn the graduation of your sister from this life to Eternal Life. She is happily now held in His Precious Grip and her spirit will continue to encourage and bless you. I cried tears with you reading this blog, because I know what it is to lose the opportunity to physically interact with those who are so dear.
I’m sorry you lost your precious sister. Prayed for the Lord to continually wrap His arms around you and your family as you grieve. I went through the motions for several months following my daddy’s sudden death three years ago. My church family and friends were so wonderful. My husband was and is my rock!
Anyone who reads this today though please pray for some of our closest friends who lost their 3 year old daughter yesterday in a tragic accident from her father backing over her in their driveway.
I just said a very heartfelt prayer for your friends.
Thank you Janelle!
Joyce – I have been and will keep praying for your friends. I can NOT imagine the grief.
I am sorry that your sister died .
As always–but even moreso today because of your example of drawing closer to Him during terrible grief (rather than pulling away)–thank you so much for sharing. I am sorry for void you and your family feel from the loss of your beautiful sister. You impact so many women’s lives through your p31 ministry & your blog… I hope you can feel all the prayers being lifted up by your readers today.
Your words of encouragement touched my heart today. My heart goes out to you and your family in the loss of your sister. I will plan on checking out your devotions each day, and will encourage others as you have encouraged me. God Bless You as we serve the Lord together.
I am sorry about your lose and pray for God to hold and comfort all of you in this time. I have major back surgry in May and I am having to learn to walk over again. My oldest daughter who is in 19 and in collage , and my hiusband and freinds and family has reached out and helped me in this time. And my Pastors are always there when we need them. I praise God for them all.
Posted by Glynnis for Kelly Smith
I couldn’t find where to post for your contest… maybe you could move this to the right place please? I can tell you that in my life that God has been being God and every day there is so much of Satan’s garbage being thrown in the mix. I’m living in a house with my mother and my about to be 13 year old son. We are all saved and we are all acting like we have no idea What Jesus Would Do…LOL, in times like these you have to reach for the humor. The arguments are daily multiple times a day, we wouldn’t talk to our enemies this way and we are having trouble changing the habit. We are recognizing it and we are ready to go crazy. I started counseling and have set up a counselor at my sons school. He has changed his friends, and has horrible things found on his Ipod that no mother should ever have to see from a 12 year old. But I pray harder. My son prayed harder. That Ipod was taken away over a month ago and he said thank you and hasn’t asked for it back. He cried and said he was turning into someone he didn’t want to be. Last Sunday I got us to church (I’m on too much medicine to drive- and I’ve put off going) So Sunday he got to go to church and Wednesday he was revving to get to midweek service. And I have to say even with the bad stuff on the Ipad his texts still were spreading the acceptance of Jesus as your savior. So I know his roots are still in good soil, and my prayers are lifted to God that he has the strength and the tools he needs to conquer any attacks, and I pray for peace and love in this house, because he wants to leave this house and his fathers house is NOT a good environment. Please pray and claim are victory and Children of God. Thank you Blessings~ Kelly I was trying to post on glynniswhtwer.com and I couldn’t find where to do that, and then I tried to click on her when your child is hurting book and that link didn’t work so when I clicked contact it set up this form… but looking at the url… I have the feeling I’m in the wrong place still. Help Please? I thought I was posting for the “Stressed-Less Living: Finding God’s Peace In Your Chaotic World” by giving away a copy.
Hi I am so sorry for the loss of your sister. My grandmother passed awa 3 months ago and I treasure the times I had with her. Your devotion really hit home with my life right at this time. I am a kindergarten teacher and now transfering to a ELL teacher. I have had a good year with the students but through a series of meeetings with my adminsitrators they have asked me if I would like to go back as an ELL teacher. I felt torn which one to do but I felt led to go back to ELL teacher. The administrators are hard to please sometimes and not always easy to communicate with. Then I get nervous and then feel condemned because of their comments. I know God is for me and Romans 8:1. Thank you for teaching me that my desire to love the children and plan good lessons for them is what matters to Jesus. If I don’t always get good affirmations from them but my heart is in the right place then I can have peace about things. Because I have learned the Lord is concerned with my heart motivations and not just my performances.
Dear Glynnis, I am so sorry for your loss. May the “peace that passes understanding” keep your heart and mind during this hard time. May God bless you for all you do for P31. I love the devotions and the different blogs and have passed them on to so many others.
Thank you, Connie
I am so sorry for your loss. The loss of a loved one does leave a hole in your life, but your heart can look forward to seeing them in heaven with no pain, no tears, only joy. I would love to win the book and start dealing with the stress in my life in a more Godly fashion.
I’m sorry about your loss Glynnis. I can’t imagine how hard the past month must have been. May God’s peace that passes all understanding be upon you. Thank you for being a blessing to all of us.
My sympathy to you and your loss. My dear friend, Stacy, is my prayer partner. Even though we only lived in the same town for 3 years, we have stayed close through the years. Whenever I need some prayers, I know I can count on her!
So sorry for your loss, Glynnis! May you sense God arms of love holding you in the days ahead and may He give you a sense of peace knowing that He will carry you when you don’t have the traction to keep going. Thank-you for sharing of your journey this past summer.
I echo the many thoughts and prayers over your loss. Thank you so much for being so open, your devotion was very timely for me. I so need to remember that relationships are much more important than my to-do list.
I look forward to meeting your dear sister when we’re all on the other side.
Today’s Sunday School lesson is on 1Cor13 & how love is a verb. Sounds like folks in your life definitely know this based on how they provided practical help(food, pad, car,etc) while your family was dealing with th wanning days of your sister’s earthly life.
This was a beautiful devotion. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing honestly about what you’re going through. It is difficult to lose anyone you love but when it is sudden and unexpected it’s even more difficult. That is what happened when my mom went to Heaven too early. So many people were Jesus to me. I am so thankful for the insight I received from them as we’ll as from God. I know she is with Him and even though I really miss her at times, I know I’ll see her again soon. And even though time passes here on earth, it will seem like no time at all once we’re reunited. I pray God gives you peace in the midst of this storm and you see Him working lovingly in your life. God bless.
I am so sorry for your loss. I am going through a difficult time at work. I really don’t have a support system and times have been very stressful. I have not been able to go to church for the past year due to recovering from foot surgery with difficulty walking.
I am so greatful for Jesus and the Word. I am lonely and stressed out.
Losing a loved one is a very hard thing. Having a good support system makes things a lot easier to handle the hard parts of life. I am so sorry for your lost. In the mist of it God sends us who and what we need. In the mist of my blessings I have had to make some major decisions that I have allowed to weigh me down. In those times God has put on my heart who to reach out to and they have prayed for and encourged me. I thank him for good goldy friends in my life.
i am very sorry to hear about your sister passing and i know its a difficult time for you. Im so glad you have church family and others who love you surrounding you and the family
Glynnis,
I am so sorry for the loss of your sister. My heart breaks for you and your family. I lost my very dear sister 10 years ago to breast cancer and still have a hole in my life without her. As your sister in Christ, I hold you up in prayer and send my love to you and your family.
Glynnis,
I am so sorry for the loss of your dear sister. Loss..I have experienced so much of it lately. It is so hard for us here on this earth to deal with such pain, but God never promised a life without trials, but praise God He did promise to be with us during them. I pray that you experience His peace and comfort during this difficult time. I have seen God’s faithfulness even in my season of loss. It amazes me when I look back on all of the times that He has been for me when everything seemed to be falling apart, He has held me together. I pray that you feel His loving arms around you in this very tough season of life.
it’s times like these that I’m so glad we have a hope beyond this life. My prayers are with you and your family. thanks for sharing this.
Sad to hear this news about your sister. Prayers for the peace of God to surround you and His presence to continue bring strength to you and your family.
Oh, Glynnis, I am so sorry to hear about your sister Helen’s passing. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Having facilitated grief support groups, I learned that grief looks different for everyone. There is no right way or wrong way. And it’s not easy, but you will not go through it alone. I pray that the Lord will continue to walk with you and your family.
Blessings,
Lara Sadowski
Condolences and prayers and hugs. I know well your description of not being able to get the traction under your feet. Thank you for sharing this part of your life with all of us on your blog. May your sharing of this pain come back to you as blessings and peace.
My heart just aches for you. And the love you’ve been shown throughout this tremendously difficult time. Well, it’s just such a touch of heaven. I have three sisters. And I adore each and every one of them. Can’t imagine your pain. I am so very sorry. Bless you and your whole family.
Glynnis, I am sorry for your loss. I too, went through a time of grieving this summer when my 40 year old brother died unexpectedly. He left behind a wife, a 12 and 10 year old, and their unborn child. At the same time, my mom, with the news of my brother, spent a few days in the hospital with heart attack like symptoms. Thankfully we had many people who were Jesus to our family during this time. It did seem to take a long time to finally get back to a “normal” life after helping everyone else the rest of the summer. Thank you for your blog, your honesty in saying” you couldn’t get traction under your feet during this time”. I felt the same way for quite awhile. God bless you.
May God bless and comfort you and your family Glynnis.