That's the title of this painting.
This blog is not to bring people down, nor is it to build me up. It's purpose is to "walk along side", "to help carry others" who are walking this journey and to let them know that they are not alone. Writing and painting are very cathartic, yet, this is not about me....it's about all of us.
Personally, the longer I live and the closer I come to the "end" of life, the more beautiful God becomes. When I was 19, I thought I knew it all (about GOD). SInging kumbaya songs and "feel good" stuff. When I lost my dad at 29 I found out I knew nothing! The "feel good" stuff just didn't cut it for me. When I was 38, I lost my mom. Life was hard. I was beginning to realize that maybe, just maybe, I needed to be a little more serious about this "God guy". We needed to have a talk! At 49, and in the beginnings of Alzheimer world, God revealed himself in ways I had never seen before. And now, at 59 (I'm counting backward), I am so aware of his miracles in every little thing. How awesome that God reveals himself more and more and more when HIS time is right. His gift of eternity is in a place where there is no pain, no tears, and no human frailty, no greediness, no anger, no jealousy, no frustration...the list goes on and on. In fact....it will be a pretty stellar existence. What extraordinary love and grace!
SO...as we enter the passage, the transition, we are as ready as we'll ever be. Take a deep breathe, the gauntlet begins!
How beautiful that this journey has been long. "Beautiful?" you say. "Yes", I say. The length of this journey has shown me the value of life, the value of relationships, the value of the heart. ...to love the "unlovely"....to appreciate the little things...to see the larger picture far greater than ourselves. It has given us time to say "goodbye", "I'm sorry", "I love you." Its has enabled us to teach our young how to love and how to give in the real sense of the word. Believe it or not, it has given us balance in an unbalanced world.
This painting is of a time when our daughter was in a dance marathon to raise money for the UNC Children's Hospital. She had been on her feet for almost 24 hours. Jerry, in his loving "daddy" way, picked her up and held her so that her feet would be up off the ground. She held on tight as he helped take the weight off so that she could continue the marathon. He carried her.
That's why we are here.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.