Abuelo Rigo

Greetings,

Yesterday my husband's grandfather, Abuelo Rigo, passed away; he was 96-years-old. It was sudden; it was sacred.  He stopped eating Tuesday after having a robust appetite all day Monday and every day before then.  Wednesday morning he woke up, and his breathing was slowing down.  One of his grandchildren, David, read to him the 23rd Psalm, and 10 minutes later he exhaled for the last time and saw our Lord. He had been bedridden for seven years, and my mother-in-law devoted herself to his care at her home in a dedicated room set up just for him.  What love and sacrifice.  He went to glory with the prettiest, healthiest skin you have ever seen and smelling like cologne!

I will forever remember him for his great love of dogs.  He had three little yappy Chihuahuas that loved him so much.  He always gave them whole wheat bread and butter for breakfast, and they were his constant companions, laying in bed with him for hours.  I learned yesterday for the first time that he was a groundskeeper at the Doral Golf Resort back in the 70s and immediately wished I would have asked more questions when I had the chance.

But what I do know is that he loved his wife very much  -  they were married for 74 years  -  and that because of his commitment to family, three daughters produced nine grandchildren who brought 20 great-grandchildren into this world. One grandson is a pastor, two granddaughters married pastors, a few great grandkids are musicians in church, others serve in different ministries like baby care and small groups, and everyone of us knows Jesus. What a beautiful legacy!     

In memory of him today we shall pray the very words that accompanied him on his journey home.

Psalm 23

Dear Lord, You are my shepherd; I have all that I need.  You let me rest in green meadows; You lead me beside peaceful streams.  You renew my strength and guide me along right paths. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I am not afraid, for You are close beside me. You protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. My cup overflows with blessings.  Surely Your goodness and unfailing love pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.

Thoughtful Giving

Greetings,

The Christmas season is in full swing, and like you, I am putting up the decorations and listening to all my favorite songs.  

Of course, front and center in my mind are all the shopping lists I have made; I really do try to give thoughtful, useful gifts!  One year I really paid attention to everything my husband said, and that year for Christmas he received Rock'em Sock'em Robots, a hat just like the one Rachel's soccer coach wore during games, a set of four knorks, and a Schoolhouse Rock! CD featuring his favorite tunes from childhood.   (I'm Just a Bill...)

A few weeks later, when I was still all proud of my considerate self, Jorge and I were out and about when he was admiring a pair of boat shoes and finished his comment by saying, "Babe, this does not mean I want this for Christmas."  In actuality, Jorge was so paranoid that he was going to receive everything he pointed out that he literally ended each sentence with the aforementioned phrase.  His loss!  He could have had a popcorn maker, sleek aluminum wallet, and a hairless Chihuahua.

I promise my feelings are not hurt, and we have laughed a great deal about the "Year of Thoughtful Giving."

The good news is there are other ways we can be thoughtful in our giving, and for this let's consider the words of one of my greatest faith heroes: Joni Eareckson Tada.  She was in an accident almost 50 years ago that left her paralyzed from the shoulders down.  But that hasn't stopped her from having a ministry that has made an impact on millions of people.  (Google her). Whenever she speaks I listen because she is credible.  I encourage you to unwrap her words slowly and then take them in and purpose in your heart to follow her example. 

She writes:

"Every Christmas I think about what it was like to be on my feet during the holidays.  There were parties and plays, decorating, hitting the malls.  Then came my accident.  That Christmas I spent at a rehab center.  Adding to the hurt I was already feeling was that I couldn't buy gifts for anyone.  The way I saw it, God was asking too much of me. The use of my body was taken away at Christmas time, but also the joy of giving.  On the afternoon of Christmas Eve I felt like a martyr.

"But Christmas morning my heart softened; as I focused on Christmas' meaning, I realized the best gift I could give was myself.  My mom didn't want a new dress; she wanted to see me smile.  My dad didn't need a new bridle for his horse; he needed to see me laugh.  My sister didn't need another sweater; she needed to see my grab hold of hope."

Joni's point is a great one.  Jorge doesn't need a tattoo sleeve as much as he needs a wife who appreciates his hard work and doesn't sweat the small stuff.  These types of gifts are extremely valuable because they are, as Joni calls them, "gifts from the heart."

Maybe you've been grumpy lately and everyone in your family knows it.  Maybe you've been self-absorbed and your spouse feels it.  Maybe you're dealing with a big problem and haven't smiled a lot lately.  Joni is not saying we don't have good reasons to feel these ways sometimes, but she is saying that everyone can benefit from a gift from the heart  -  especially those closest to you.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We already know who could benefit the most from a gift from our heart. We already know who would love to see us stop complaining and smile.  Give us the strength to follow through.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~