ONE THING CAN NEVER BE TAKEN FROM US

[1]

WHEN LOSS COMES UNEXPECTED

On February 18, 2014, I wrote these words to my blog followers:

“On Valentine’s Day . . . after extensive tests . . . it was determined there is a blockage situated in the liver and pancreatic area . . . we checked her into Overlake Hospital for an ERCP procedure . . . No word on pathology outcomes as yet . . . cancelled my trip into Russia . . . we may have just entered what has unexpectedly become the most precious season of our 60 year journey together since first we met. We pray for a miracle of healing and for our Father’s will at the same time. We’ll be in touch . . . We are well in spirit, if not in body.”

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

During the next very long year, many questions were asked of us by others. Questions arriving on everyone’s lips sooner or later. I responded at the time from Scriptures, our rule of faith and conduct over the 60 years Dixie and I were together. Here are some of them, with the prayer they may bring comfort and blessing in your times of physical challenge or grief.

“After all your service to God and others, how could this be happening?”

With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. ~ Psalm 91:16

“Wait. Aren’t these supposed to be the ‘golden years’?”

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. ~ Proverbs 3:16

“How much time do I have after diagnosis?” (A question everyone wants answered.)

My times are in your hand. ~ Psalm 31:15

“Is God capricious and untrustworthy?”

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious … abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. ~ Psalm 86:15

“It’s just not fair. Bad things shouldn’t happen to good people.”

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. ~ Psalm 4:8

“Are we to accept suffering and death with stoic fatalism?”

It was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. ~ Hebrews 2:10

“Do we have two, five, ten more years? Only God knows. God is God. We are not.” (In the end, Dixie and I were gifted with 18 more precious months together.)

If anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. ~John 9:31

The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ~Romans 8:27

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

~Romans 8:18

 

THE ANNIVERSARY

This last weekend marked the third year since Dixie answered her final call and was ushered into the presence of our Lord.

 

How do I know she is in heaven?

 

Because one day someone told us that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16.

 

And we believed!

 

In simple faith, we linked our past, present, and future to Jesus Christ and to one another. From that moment on, life has been a holy adventure.

 

If you are not sure where you will spend eternity, you can be. Right now. Jesus loves you. He really does. Better and more completely than anyone else can.

 

I do miss Dixie everyday. Those of us who have said a final “I love you,” to someone, often mark the anniversary of their home-going with tears. Of sadness? Yes, but also of hope and joy. It is the great mystery. When we step away from this world into the next, Jesus and our loved ones will be there to greet us.

 

And in this amazing, mysterious story of life in Jesus, the ending doesn’t get any better!

 

 

 

Dixie Tanneberg’s poignant, inspiring story is told in Sacred Journey, available in hardcover or Kindle version at https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Journey-Ward-Tanneberg-ebook/dp/B01LZYD4Z0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1532026960&sr=8-1&keywords=sacred+journey+by+tanneberg.

^[1]Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Hill, Boston