a note of Thanks...

This week is the beginning of the most difficult time of the year for me.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are so bittersweet without my Matthew. His death has taught me to treasure my time with our families so much more than I did before. But at the same time, it makes me miss Matthew so much more.

He loved family time. And his absence feels so much bigger when we're all together -

and there's no Matthew...

As soon as we get through the holidays, it's January and we face the anniversary of his death.

So, the next two months are really, really tough!

But this time also reminds me of something great.  

One of the many gifts God has given us through this journey-

The gift of friendship...

And it is a precious gift!!!

I know there are many of you who continue to lift us up in prayer. Believe me when I say we have felt it and we still feel it.  God is using you in such a powerful way to minister to my family.  

I could never say it enough, but

THANK YOU!!!

So, tonight on Thanksgiving Eve, the night before one of the hardest days of the year for me, I am giving thanks for you. Our faithful, wonderful friends and family who have not been afraid of our grief. Who have wrapped us in love. Who have lifted us up and encouraged us. Who have been the literal hands and feet of God.

Happy Thanksgiving. 

Enjoy every moment with your family. 

And thank you for being there for my family!!!

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

~Ephesians 1:16

Until the Day

I'm often still amazed to hear the impact Matthew had on the lives of others.  Even now, over two and a half years after his death, people still stop me to tell me the impression he has made on their lives.  Of course our family thinks he was wonderful, but it's a blessing to see how much of a difference he made for others.  His kind and loving heart made a difference in this world and even in his absence, his legacy lives on.

These thoughts led me to a scripture in the book of Philippians...

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

~Philippians 1:4-6

Something jumped off the page of my Bible reading this and I learned another lesson from my little boy.  "Until the day of Christ Jesus".  The phrase "until the day" made me think deep.  Our work on earth is not just for our time that we are here.  I think God's plan is for our work to live on long after we do. This scripture says the completion comes when Jesus does.  Hmmmmmmm...

So, as I carry on in my day to day life, what legacy am I leaving? Am I living in such a way that God's work in me will live on long after I do? That's a tough task. Since Matthew's death, my goal has been for God to use his story, me and our family for HIS glory.  But, I have never thought about it outliving us.  That task just got a littler tougher as I am realizing that God wants to use us not just now, but until HIS return.

I am inspired by my gone but not forgotten 11 year old. If he can make an eternal impact in his short life, can't we all? As believers aren't we called too???  Matthew has taught me many lessons.  I miss him so very much, but in many ways he is still with me.  His little life still impacts me and others daily.  I want my life to do that.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that God did not take all four of us, HE took one of us. Each day we wake up, HE has a plan for us.  Slowly I'm beginning understand what the lasting effects of that plan can be, if I allow HIM to lead the way.

Deep, deep thoughts...

I love how my Matthew still does that to me!