GOoD Works

Two years ago I met Jason, an amazing hospice chaplain that I was blessed to work with. Not only was he a spiritual resource for our patients, but for myself and our team of coworkers. 

Earlier this year while I was at a nursing home seeing patients, Jason came in to make his visits. We met in a hallway, staring outside at the cold winter sky and began a conversation. Little did we know where that conversation would lead both of us many months down the road. 

We began talking about our individual dreams and plans for the future. He voiced a desire to return full time to the Baptist ministry. I told him... Well, I know a church. I told him that it was in a really small community in north Texas.... it's the church my grandparent's were members of. He and I had many conversations about my grandparents in the past. Papa's recurrent pneumonia had started months before and I had asked him to pray for my grandfather many times. There in that hallway, I called Granny and asked if they were still searching for a minister and she said that the church had actually discussed forming a search committee just a few days prior. I told her... Well, I know a guy. 

Fast forward... A resume and sermons were sent, meetings were scheduled, interviews took place, and many prayers were said. Papa and I had talked about Jason and his family numerous times. Papa had been very sick and hadn't had the opportunity to meet Jason, but he was faithful in prayer that the Lord would bring the right minister to their church. 

On July 10th, my Papa died. On July 12th, Jason preached to the congregation in Era and a vote was cast.... a unanimous vote in favor of him as the new minister of the Era First Baptist Church. He and his family extended their stay and attended Papa's funeral service the next day. Jason and his family could have headed back to Amarillo on Sunday, but they chose to stay and support my family in our darkest hours.

Six weeks have passed and Jason and his family have settled into their home in Era. He's preached the last few Sundays. He is meeting the needs of the church, the community, and my grieving grandmother. My Papa would have loved Jason. He always had a very special bond with the ministers of the churches he and Granny were members of. He would make sure that their needs were being met. I have no doubt he would have done the same for Jason and his family. 

God was there in that hallway on that cold February day. He knew where that conversation would lead to. Even though the last six weeks have been the most difficult weeks of my adult life, I am so thankful to have been apart of His amazing plan. 

God is continuing His work in me. If there is a blessing in Papa's death, it is that I realized while helping to take care of him... I am a hospice nurse. It is my passion... my calling. So, I'm going back to what I'm supposed to be doing... being a hospice nurse. 

How is God working in you? What will he do in your life to bring good works? Who will you meet today that God will use in your life? How might God use YOU in their life? Where will your journey lead you in the next six months, year, ten years? God works, friends... You only have to believe in Him. Have you accepted Him into your life? 

God works. Even in pain and sadness, in happiness and joy. He has a plan for your life. (Can I get an amen?) 

~jen 

Grief and Dirt

 

I never imagined how harsh the boundary line of overturned soil and grass would be. Last week as I entered the small cemetery of my grandparent's hometown, I wondered if I would be able to find my grandfather's burial plot. I knew the general vicinity to look. As I drove my car into the cemetery, I knew exactly where his plot was. The mound of overturned soil was a stark reminder to the reality of this moment. He's. Really. Gone. I got out of my car. I sat next to the dirt and began tidying the area. I straightened the flowers. Pulled the nearby weeds. Wished more than anything that there was a blanket of grass covering him. I cried. I talked to him. I watched the setting sun. I dug out a golf tee from Cade's golf bag in the car and placed it near the flowers. He always talked to the boys about their most recent golf tournaments. I told him how much I missed being a hospice nurse. I told him Michael was staying busy with work. These were the things he would have asked me about. I told him I missed him everyday since he died and that I loved him. I asked him to be with Granny because she misses him more than any one of us could. I told him goodbye, again.

I miss him every single day. 

~jen