Dear Faithbooking Friends:
The subject of suffering has been on my mind for the whole Easter season. The reason being of course on how our Lord Jesus Christ suffered on the cross for our sins, and also because of my mother-in-law Florence.
Florence entered the hospital at the beginning of February for what was supposed to be a simple skin graft operation to help "repair" a ulcer on her leg that was not healing after many months. The operation was successful, but unfortunately the skin graft did not work, and she developed gangrene in one leg. At one point the doctors were talking about amputating both her legs above the knee...a "bilateral" amputation they called it. Poor woman! During this time, Florence was in extreme pain, and had to be put on morphine. My husband said that he had never seen his mother be in so much pain before. After many consultations with the doctors, and 6 weeks later, on Easter Monday, Florence endured a 6 hour angioplasty procedure to remove a blockage in her upper thigh area. The blockage was removed, but unfortunately, less than 48 hours later, Florence died of renal failure. She was 80 years old.
The truth be told, Florence had suffered most of her adult life. He first born son, died in a tragic bicycle accident, at the age of 8 years old. She also suffered from a mental illness (bipolar disorder), until the day she died. She was a good mother. She never complained. She endured her sufferings quietly.
What I have been thinking about, and what I have learned is that God permits suffering in our lives. This is definitely a mystery. At the same time, suffering is a sign of God's love for us, as well as healing is. Jesus is God's answer to our suffering and the need for spiritual and physical healing. Whenever Jesus cured, it was first to heal spiritually, either by giving or increasing faith. Spiritual healing meant that the relationship between the person and God the Father was restored. The person would then be better able to carry the cross that God had allowed to be present in his or her life. The person would be able to live with joy and peace, and find meaning in life even in the midst of suffering.
Wow!!! While I was typing this out to you, I just had an epiphany on my own life and suffering. God is good! Remind me to share it with you when I see you.
There is no doubt in our minds that Florence is with our Father in heaven, and she is also reunited with her beloved son and her husband. Through all the sorrow of losing Florence, who was also a loving grandmother and great-grandmother, we know that God is good, and there will be graces received from her death. She is finally at peace now.
I am inspired to start on my new faithbooking layout for April. Dianna has once again picked out some beautiful papers and embellishments to play with.
Thank you for listening to me, and I look forward to our next meeting.
May the peace of God be with you.....
Your sister in Christ,
Pam
The subject of suffering has been on my mind for the whole Easter season. The reason being of course on how our Lord Jesus Christ suffered on the cross for our sins, and also because of my mother-in-law Florence.
Florence entered the hospital at the beginning of February for what was supposed to be a simple skin graft operation to help "repair" a ulcer on her leg that was not healing after many months. The operation was successful, but unfortunately the skin graft did not work, and she developed gangrene in one leg. At one point the doctors were talking about amputating both her legs above the knee...a "bilateral" amputation they called it. Poor woman! During this time, Florence was in extreme pain, and had to be put on morphine. My husband said that he had never seen his mother be in so much pain before. After many consultations with the doctors, and 6 weeks later, on Easter Monday, Florence endured a 6 hour angioplasty procedure to remove a blockage in her upper thigh area. The blockage was removed, but unfortunately, less than 48 hours later, Florence died of renal failure. She was 80 years old.
The truth be told, Florence had suffered most of her adult life. He first born son, died in a tragic bicycle accident, at the age of 8 years old. She also suffered from a mental illness (bipolar disorder), until the day she died. She was a good mother. She never complained. She endured her sufferings quietly.
What I have been thinking about, and what I have learned is that God permits suffering in our lives. This is definitely a mystery. At the same time, suffering is a sign of God's love for us, as well as healing is. Jesus is God's answer to our suffering and the need for spiritual and physical healing. Whenever Jesus cured, it was first to heal spiritually, either by giving or increasing faith. Spiritual healing meant that the relationship between the person and God the Father was restored. The person would then be better able to carry the cross that God had allowed to be present in his or her life. The person would be able to live with joy and peace, and find meaning in life even in the midst of suffering.
Wow!!! While I was typing this out to you, I just had an epiphany on my own life and suffering. God is good! Remind me to share it with you when I see you.
There is no doubt in our minds that Florence is with our Father in heaven, and she is also reunited with her beloved son and her husband. Through all the sorrow of losing Florence, who was also a loving grandmother and great-grandmother, we know that God is good, and there will be graces received from her death. She is finally at peace now.
I am inspired to start on my new faithbooking layout for April. Dianna has once again picked out some beautiful papers and embellishments to play with.
Thank you for listening to me, and I look forward to our next meeting.
May the peace of God be with you.....
Your sister in Christ,
Pam
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