Post by lazarus on Feb 21, 2009 20:02:20 GMT -5
My father had three brothers and a sister. I lost him in 1995 to a subdural hematoma. His last brother (Dave) was the last of a line. He recently had heart surgery and lingered in the hospital for quite some time. His daughter, Suzy, whom I love dearly, lives in Dallas with her husband. During Hurricaine Rita, we spent 15 days at their horse ranch in Texas. A wonderful time, even under the most trying of conditions. Food, horses to ride, cows to feed and a place to shoot off some guns. Suzy has spent time in Africa under a Christian Crusaide type of thing. Wonderful people and a blessing to be related to.
Being the "maudlin" kinda guy that I am....here are some of her thoughts (with her permission) after her father's passing....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few days ago I was walking on the beach and found the first whole sand dollar
I have ever found in all my 58 years. I was so very excited about it. I talked
to the grandgirls on the phone and told them about it. Of course, they were not
only excited about it, they both wanted it! So I told them I would try real
hard to find another one so that each one could have one. Savannah told me to
find 2 more so that I could keep one! That girl always thinks big!
So yesterday and the day before as I walked the beach, I thanked God for his
many blessings through this difficult time - this place that he had provided for
Mom and I that feeds my soul - the time off work so that I could be here, the
wonderful husband that supports my being here, my dear friends who are praying
for us, etc. I asked him if he could just increase my blessing with another
sand dollar on the beach. (That is so human, isn't it -to always ask for more
of the tings you can hold in your hand!) For 2 days I found no whole sand
dollars.
But this morning early as I took a beautiful walk down the beach with a cup of
coffee in one hand and the other in my jacket pocket (chilly here, especially on
the beach) I began singing praise and worship songs and praying intermitantly.
Before I knew it, I found one!!!!! I praised God and held it in my hand gently.
I noticed that the clouds were pink and fluffy, the sunlight on the water was
awesome, the waves were crashing in, there were multiple cool birds around and
the pelicans were skimming the ocean and diving after their pray. What a
wonderful world He has created. But, my main focus was to look for sand
dollars. You are not going to believe, but in one hour on the beach, I came
home with 10 sand dollars. What a bananza! All found in different places. I
was reminded of several truths:
1-God is good, and He does provide for us.
2-God wants us to be pleased with his blessings.
3-As I found more sand dollars, I had to open my hand up more and more to
receive them. Just like last week's children's sermon, if I held my hand open,
God could pour more blessings out. Because I had a coffee cup in the other hand
and was not willing to open it up to God's blessings, when the one hand was
filled, I no longer looked for more blessing (in the way of sand dollars). It
is true, we must be ready and willing to receive His gifts!
4 -Once I found several whole sand dollars, I was much more interested in the
broken ones as well - because I could see the angels inside! As Christians, we
are to look at our broken brothers and sisters with love, and find the goodness
inside!
5 - While I was looking down at the shells on the beach, I became aware that I
was missing out on all the other blessings that God had in store for me! The
colors, the water, the birds etc! We cannot hold most of God's blessing in our
hands! God's blessings take many different forms. Sometimes it's just a matter of
recognizing God's blessings.
6 - I can't wait to give my grandgilrs multiple sand dollars! I know it pleases
God for us to share our blessings and not to hord them.
7 - God is consistent in pouring out His blessings to us. However, they are in
HIS timing. I never saw even one sand dollar the two days before, even though I
prayed for God to show me where they were. Then, all of a sudden - bananza!
8 - God has many blessings for us even when we are going through our hardest of
times. Like Peter, we can get so overwhelmed with the issues of life that we
take our eyes off the Lord and miss the blessings he has for us.
9- We can never limit God. He has the ability and desire to give us more than we could ever ask for. Like us, as earthy parents, He wants to delight us! How better to do that than to give us more than we could ever fathom. God is good, and His goodness endures forever and ever - irrespective of our circumstances. He wants to see us joyous through all things.
10. How many sand dollars have I crunched below my feet looking off for others? How many blessings have we passed up looking for another?
Upon reading this, my dear friend, Kathy, wrote this poem about my experience:
Abundant Riches and a Dollar More
For Susan Wellborn
I, upon your golden beach, with prayerful cadence walk
Alone at last the two of us, that we, dear Lord, may talk
The sands of time move slowly, Lord, and in my human-ness
The wait is hard but it is in You, God, that I must rest
And as we stroll, Lord, hand in hand, along the beach I see
How Good You are and just how much you've lovingly blessed me
The air is chilled but I am warmed; enfolded by Your love
the gentle breeze; caresses from my King enthroned above
My voice is singing praises; yes, my very being, too
And with my heart, soul, mind and strength, My Jesus, I love you
No longer parched, You feed my soul, Your living water slakes
To walk with You - my life renewed - such difference closeness makes!
The cotton candy clouds and then the sparkle on the seas,
The glories of creation send me trembling to my knees
To thank my King; Creator; and to humbly say to thee
My cup doth runneth over from all You have given me.
Despite the greatest riches, you gave me a dollar more
A perfect little shell just waiting there upon the shore
A sign to show You're with me and with joy I picked it up
And so another blessing overfloweth from my cup
To give as I received, I shared the news of treasure found
And so began a hunt which led to wisdom so profound
I shout now to the world that all may know the richness of
A life walked with a God of grace - abounding so in love
You're good beyond all human words; you bless and bless some more
You give and want us pleased with gifts; in You we're never poor
You fill our hands, our lives, our hearts; our cups will overflow
And still there'll be no end to all the kindness that You show
You teach that 'whole' is beautiful for in perfection You
Created everything we see but then you've taught me, too,
That brokenness reveals what lies within us all and we
Are privileged to reach into broken hearts of folks and see
That therein sits a void that only Jesus Christ can fill
But You have put upon our hearts and deign to thus instill
Compassion, grace and servanthood upon Your children to
Be salt and light to all the world; to treat folks just like You
And still we walk, Lord you and I - you whisper to my heart
That with my human focus I can only see a part
Of all You made and all that is - to see I must look high
And also view the world with a Godly focused eye
Now seeing from Your point of view, I gain so much insight
I recognize that it is all Your plan and is just right
You weave the tapestry of life, but lest I limit you
I must think big and step aside and let you, Father, do
What You have planned, for You have said Your plan gives us a hope
And when I trust Your sovereign ways and rest, then I can cope
With sands of time that trickle through the hour glass too slow
When waiting here for prayers to be answered - now I know
The end's as the beginning in Your every perfect plan;
As maker of each moment every day is in Your hand
And so I walk with You, dear Lord, and humbly have to say
I'm thankful for each circumstance; Yours is the perfect way.
I'll tread not on the blessings but my hands I'll open wide
My arms will reach to You, Lord; not hang limply at my side
My eyes' on heaven focused, and my ears' tuned in to You
My heart's surrendered Lord, and what you say, so will I do.
By Kathy Derschebourg
Dad was such a blessing to us, but that blessing is not over. His laughter, fun loving ways, positive attitude and encouraging ways will stick with each of us forever and ever. And, we will see him again!
Love,
Susie
Being the "maudlin" kinda guy that I am....here are some of her thoughts (with her permission) after her father's passing....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few days ago I was walking on the beach and found the first whole sand dollar
I have ever found in all my 58 years. I was so very excited about it. I talked
to the grandgirls on the phone and told them about it. Of course, they were not
only excited about it, they both wanted it! So I told them I would try real
hard to find another one so that each one could have one. Savannah told me to
find 2 more so that I could keep one! That girl always thinks big!
So yesterday and the day before as I walked the beach, I thanked God for his
many blessings through this difficult time - this place that he had provided for
Mom and I that feeds my soul - the time off work so that I could be here, the
wonderful husband that supports my being here, my dear friends who are praying
for us, etc. I asked him if he could just increase my blessing with another
sand dollar on the beach. (That is so human, isn't it -to always ask for more
of the tings you can hold in your hand!) For 2 days I found no whole sand
dollars.
But this morning early as I took a beautiful walk down the beach with a cup of
coffee in one hand and the other in my jacket pocket (chilly here, especially on
the beach) I began singing praise and worship songs and praying intermitantly.
Before I knew it, I found one!!!!! I praised God and held it in my hand gently.
I noticed that the clouds were pink and fluffy, the sunlight on the water was
awesome, the waves were crashing in, there were multiple cool birds around and
the pelicans were skimming the ocean and diving after their pray. What a
wonderful world He has created. But, my main focus was to look for sand
dollars. You are not going to believe, but in one hour on the beach, I came
home with 10 sand dollars. What a bananza! All found in different places. I
was reminded of several truths:
1-God is good, and He does provide for us.
2-God wants us to be pleased with his blessings.
3-As I found more sand dollars, I had to open my hand up more and more to
receive them. Just like last week's children's sermon, if I held my hand open,
God could pour more blessings out. Because I had a coffee cup in the other hand
and was not willing to open it up to God's blessings, when the one hand was
filled, I no longer looked for more blessing (in the way of sand dollars). It
is true, we must be ready and willing to receive His gifts!
4 -Once I found several whole sand dollars, I was much more interested in the
broken ones as well - because I could see the angels inside! As Christians, we
are to look at our broken brothers and sisters with love, and find the goodness
inside!
5 - While I was looking down at the shells on the beach, I became aware that I
was missing out on all the other blessings that God had in store for me! The
colors, the water, the birds etc! We cannot hold most of God's blessing in our
hands! God's blessings take many different forms. Sometimes it's just a matter of
recognizing God's blessings.
6 - I can't wait to give my grandgilrs multiple sand dollars! I know it pleases
God for us to share our blessings and not to hord them.
7 - God is consistent in pouring out His blessings to us. However, they are in
HIS timing. I never saw even one sand dollar the two days before, even though I
prayed for God to show me where they were. Then, all of a sudden - bananza!
8 - God has many blessings for us even when we are going through our hardest of
times. Like Peter, we can get so overwhelmed with the issues of life that we
take our eyes off the Lord and miss the blessings he has for us.
9- We can never limit God. He has the ability and desire to give us more than we could ever ask for. Like us, as earthy parents, He wants to delight us! How better to do that than to give us more than we could ever fathom. God is good, and His goodness endures forever and ever - irrespective of our circumstances. He wants to see us joyous through all things.
10. How many sand dollars have I crunched below my feet looking off for others? How many blessings have we passed up looking for another?
Upon reading this, my dear friend, Kathy, wrote this poem about my experience:
Abundant Riches and a Dollar More
For Susan Wellborn
I, upon your golden beach, with prayerful cadence walk
Alone at last the two of us, that we, dear Lord, may talk
The sands of time move slowly, Lord, and in my human-ness
The wait is hard but it is in You, God, that I must rest
And as we stroll, Lord, hand in hand, along the beach I see
How Good You are and just how much you've lovingly blessed me
The air is chilled but I am warmed; enfolded by Your love
the gentle breeze; caresses from my King enthroned above
My voice is singing praises; yes, my very being, too
And with my heart, soul, mind and strength, My Jesus, I love you
No longer parched, You feed my soul, Your living water slakes
To walk with You - my life renewed - such difference closeness makes!
The cotton candy clouds and then the sparkle on the seas,
The glories of creation send me trembling to my knees
To thank my King; Creator; and to humbly say to thee
My cup doth runneth over from all You have given me.
Despite the greatest riches, you gave me a dollar more
A perfect little shell just waiting there upon the shore
A sign to show You're with me and with joy I picked it up
And so another blessing overfloweth from my cup
To give as I received, I shared the news of treasure found
And so began a hunt which led to wisdom so profound
I shout now to the world that all may know the richness of
A life walked with a God of grace - abounding so in love
You're good beyond all human words; you bless and bless some more
You give and want us pleased with gifts; in You we're never poor
You fill our hands, our lives, our hearts; our cups will overflow
And still there'll be no end to all the kindness that You show
You teach that 'whole' is beautiful for in perfection You
Created everything we see but then you've taught me, too,
That brokenness reveals what lies within us all and we
Are privileged to reach into broken hearts of folks and see
That therein sits a void that only Jesus Christ can fill
But You have put upon our hearts and deign to thus instill
Compassion, grace and servanthood upon Your children to
Be salt and light to all the world; to treat folks just like You
And still we walk, Lord you and I - you whisper to my heart
That with my human focus I can only see a part
Of all You made and all that is - to see I must look high
And also view the world with a Godly focused eye
Now seeing from Your point of view, I gain so much insight
I recognize that it is all Your plan and is just right
You weave the tapestry of life, but lest I limit you
I must think big and step aside and let you, Father, do
What You have planned, for You have said Your plan gives us a hope
And when I trust Your sovereign ways and rest, then I can cope
With sands of time that trickle through the hour glass too slow
When waiting here for prayers to be answered - now I know
The end's as the beginning in Your every perfect plan;
As maker of each moment every day is in Your hand
And so I walk with You, dear Lord, and humbly have to say
I'm thankful for each circumstance; Yours is the perfect way.
I'll tread not on the blessings but my hands I'll open wide
My arms will reach to You, Lord; not hang limply at my side
My eyes' on heaven focused, and my ears' tuned in to You
My heart's surrendered Lord, and what you say, so will I do.
By Kathy Derschebourg
Dad was such a blessing to us, but that blessing is not over. His laughter, fun loving ways, positive attitude and encouraging ways will stick with each of us forever and ever. And, we will see him again!
Love,
Susie
your cousin's (?) spirit shines through, warm and gentle.