PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY

So, my sister has been spending time cleaning out some of my mom's drawers.

It's rather amazing what she's accumulated in her 83+ years – and also amazing what she's been able to stuff into drawers!!

Once in a while, my sister comes across a real treasure.

A forgotten piece of jewelry.

A childhood token.

Money.

But the best treasure of all?

Old photographs!

Photos of my mother as a child, me and my siblings as children, and our kids in their childhood.

Precious memories.


As I was looking through some photos that my sister put aside for me, I got to thinking.

Isn't it strange how we can't remember anything from our early years?  Those memories don't belong to us, but rather to our parents and the people who loved us.

Here's an example…

I remember several years ago taking a day trip with my parents.

I drove us to a beach town where my dad had grown up for a portion of his boyhood.  He had so many fond memories there.

We drove around to houses he stayed in, and he told us story after story about people that had lived in the neighborhood – including the man who would shine a huge spotlight into the surf so they could swim until ten o'clock at night!

The general store was still there, and relatively unchanged in 70+ years – the place where he used to buy his candy.

It was a precious time watching his face light up with memories of such good times.

On our way back home, my parents asked me if we could take a quick side trip to the place where they brought me home from the hospital.

Well, sure!

We found it, and just as we were parking our car at the curb, the current tenants drove into the driveway.

Mom and I decided we were going to ask them if we could poke our heads inside.

Dad was mortified, and tried (in vain) to get us to change our minds.

(We left him in the car…ahem!)

So, we walked up the small driveway and approached the people as they were getting out of their car.

They looked at us askance, clearly not wanting to be bothered.

But we persisted.

As I told them why we were there, they smiled and invited us in.

Linked arm in arm, my mother and I entered the little house where I spent my first days of life.

Mom sighed, "It hasn't changed at all."

Then she started pointing things out to me…

"That's the window where we'd put your cradle in the afternoon."

"Here's the kitchen where I washed and prepared your bottles."

"See the sidewalk across the street?  That's where I would walk you in the stroller."


You know, it was a special moment, but kinda eerie.

It was weird to think that I'd actually been in this place, but had absolutely no recollection of it.

And yet, when I looked into the face of my mother, awash with the glow of HER memories of that time with me, I understood something.

Those first few years of our lives do indeed belong to someone else.

Just as the memories I have of my sons in the very beginnings of their lives will always be held in my heart instead of their minds.

I don't know, I thought it was kinda special.

We profusely thanked the people as we walked out.

But then I turned to my mom and said:

"Mom, isn't this the place where Dad backed into the carport on his first day back at work after I was born?"

She grinned.

"Yes, it is."

I grinned.

We wandered down the driveway, and I got to see the infamous carport that has played such a starring role in one of my favorite stories about me being born.

I love that my father, Mr. Have-It-All-Together, was actually kinda thrown by my arrival!!

Good times.

My earliest memory is when I was about 3 years old.

It’s kinda sketchy, but I've verified it with my mom, and I do have the basic details accurate.  My real memories start at about age 4 or 5 – highlights that must have stuck with me because of their meaning.

It's been fun looking at the photos – and sometimes they spur those early memories.

Photographic memory.

Yes.


As I was lying down to sleep last night, I was thinking about those photos, the memories they represent, and the accumulation of moments that a person's life actually is.

Some of it (much of it) is lost to me now.

My memory is pretty good, but even so, it can't contain everything.

But God can – and He does.

I was stilled by that thought.

My entire life – every moment – is firmly implanted in the forefront of His omniscient mind.

He knew all of it before I was born, before the creation of the world.

And He never, ever forgets a thing – never forgets me.

How comforting that thought is to me!

There have been times when I'm watching TV, or attending a huge sporting event, or spending the day at an amusement park – any time I see a crowd of people – and I am overwhelmed by the thought that God knows about every single person's entire life.

Every moment of their history.

All the things that have happened to them.

All the hurts, the joys, the laughter and the tears – their every thought and every feeling.

And He loves each of them.

Just like He loves each of us – as if we were the only person in the whole world.

His love is universal, but also incredibly singular and individually-focused.

I'll never understand it fully.

But I do know this…

He knows me better than I know myself, for He remembers.

The good, the bad, the ugly – my moments are His memories.


I love that the One who created me is the same One who carries me.

From birth to death to eternity – always in His arms.

Never out of His thoughts, ever close to His heart.


And that brings me a comfort and peace that I must always remember…



What's your earliest memory?

Me - First Grade

And yes, I remember this dress!
I loved it!! 

"'I am the LORD, and I do not change.'" (Malachi 3:6, NLT)

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17, ESV)

"…you are always the same; you will live forever." (Psalm 102:27, NLT)

"Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages)." (Hebrews 13:8, AMP)

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." 
(Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV)

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end,' says the Lord God. 'I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come – the Almighty One.'" (Revelation 1:8, NLT)

"…the one who watches over you will not slumber.  Indeed, he…never slumbers or sleeps.  The LORD himself watches over you!…The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.  The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." (From Psalm 121:3-5, 7-8, NLT)

"You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.  They cannot be numbered!  I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!" 
(Psalm 139:16-18, NLT)

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…" (Jeremiah 1:5, NASB)

"But whoever loves God is known by God." (1 Corinthians 8:3, NIV)

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." 
(Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV)

"'Can a mother forget [her] baby…and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!'" (Isaiah 49:15, NIV)

"'I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age.  I made you, and I will care for you.  I will carry you along and save you.'" (Isaiah 46:4, NLT)

"'…Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5, NIV)



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BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

THE BOGEYMAN

Big girl confession.

I am a scaredy-cat.

And I am very afraid of the dark.

Which isn't a good thing when you live on the top of a mountain, with only one neighbor in sight (who only occasionally visits), no streetlights, multiple windows, and minimal window coverings.

I feel like I am on view for every scary creature out there.

And I really don't like driving home in the dark.

The last leg to our house is a steep switchback, a skinny ribbon of a road that requires one to slow to a snail's pace to negotiate it.

At nighttime, this means one lonely set of headlights illuminating shadowy trees and clawing branches, ogre-shaped boulders, darkened ravines where trolls lurk…

And heaven help me if it's windy!


I have always been afraid of the dark.

I think it must be something innate to the human creature.  I think we're born with an uneasy wariness of the darkness.  After all, we can't see as well, and therefore we're most vulnerable.

However, if something happens to you when you're a child, that fear can really escalate and take hold.

Like it did for me.

I vividly remember one night when we were visiting my grandparents' house. I was very young.  Young enough that my mom put me to bed in the other room while they stayed up visiting.

I fell asleep, yes.

But at some point, I awoke – and discovered, to my terror, that someone or some *thing* had a tight grip on my hand!

Now I knew that the Bogeyman lived either in a closet or under a bed.  So I knew it was HIM that had hold of me!!

Even though I was scared out of my wits, I still had some wits about me.

So I started reasoning out what to do.

If I yelled for my father, the Bogeyman would pull me quickly under the bed and take me to the unknown void where he takes little children.

If I stayed still and quiet, he'd still end up pulling me quickly under the bed and taking me to the unknown void where he takes little children.

I finally decided that if I yelled for my father, the Bogeyman might be startled just long enough for my dad to arrive and rescue me.

I started screaming…

"Dad, help me, help me!!"

He stormed into the room, and I started sobbing.

"What's wrong???"

Blubbering, I tried to tell him about how the Bogeyman was tightly gripping my hand, and how he was momentarily going to pull me under the bed and take me to the unknown void where he takes little children.

My father started laughing.

Dad was not a cruel man, but I just could NOT figure out what was so funny about being kidnapped.

"Dad, why are you laughing?"

"Look at your hand," he chuckled.

Oh, I was terrified to do that.  What horribly gnarled, wart-encrusted, talon-curled, slimy green hand was I going to see?

Finally, I took one peek – only to find my hand firmly in the grasp of my other one.

What?!?!

Well, it seems that one arm had fallen asleep, and dead to the world, it had become the gripping and grasping claw of the *Bogeyman*…

OK, amusing, but this incident only cemented my terror of the dark.

Fortunately, I did not have parents who used the Bogeyman as a threat to ensure good behavior.

But I did have a brother who delighted in jumping out at me from dark doorways, or from behind couches, or out of closets.

My fear of the dark and sudden surprises took root.

I still sorta launch myself into bed from a couple of feet out…

And "The Hub" has been know to accidentally startle me into a terror-stricken shout from time to time.

He always asks me, "Who did you expect?"

Well, the Bogeyman…


Interesting background on the Bogeyman:

"The word bogey is believed to be derived from the Middle English bogge/bugge (hobgoblin).  Bogeyman (also, sometimes, incorrectly, spelled bogieman, boogeyman, or boogie man) is a common allusion to a mythical creature in many cultures used by adults or older children to frighten children into good behavior. This monster has no specific appearance, and conceptions about it can vary drastically from household to household within the same community; in many cases, he has no set appearance in the mind of an adult or child, but is simply a non-specific embodiment of terror. Parents may tell their children that if they misbehave, the bogeyman will get them…In some cases, the bogeyman is a nickname for the devil." 
(From Wikipedia)

It seems like every culture has some sort of myth or legend about the Bogeyman.

But what I found most interesting is that he can represent Satan.

When you think about it, our fear of the dark probably has its roots in our fear of the devil and his minions.  And though the Bogeyman is a fictional character, the enemy of our souls is very real.

And he has a mission – to steal, kill, and destroy.  (John 10:10, ESV)

Described as evil, a thief, the father of lies, a murderer, he is scary.

But, I have discovered a couple of things about him.


One, he cannot read my mind.

This means that my thought life is private.

It cannot be invaded physically or spiritually by the enemy.

Yes, just as we can sense the mood of another person and try to influence it, he can be the parrot that sits on my shoulder, squawking his lies and venom into my ear.

Or he can be the slippery serpent that whispers temptations and doubts.

He can attempt to inflame my thoughts, influence my thoughts, encourage my thoughts, twist my thoughts – but he cannot get in there and hear them.

I like that.

For one thing, this means that when I talk with the Lord in my heart, the enemy is NOT privy to the conversation.

He will not hear me pour out my heart, nor listen to me recount my troubles and worries.  He will not hear me when I feel angry or disappointed in God. He will never hear my doubts.

Therefore, what tremendous courage I can take in being totally honest with the Lord!

I don't know if any of you remember the comedy series, "Get Smart."  If you do, then you'll remember the *cone of silence.*  A rather bulky and cumbersome plastic dome that never, ever worked.

But, God surrounds our minds with His protection.

So what we say in our innermost thoughts, and what we feel in our innermost emotions, is safe with Him.

He alone is omniscient, He alone knows the heart.

He alone knows you.


The second thing that I've learned about the enemy is that he cannot read my mind.

I'm not being redundant here.

This is what I mean.

If the devil cannot read my mind – (he cannot) – then he also doesn't hear my words when I try to battle him in my thoughts.

I can say "Get thee behind me, Satan" all I want in my head, and it might serve to shore up my defenses, but there is only one way to be offensive…

Say it out loud.

Yes, say it so he can hear it.

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He used Scripture as His sword.

But He didn't just quote it in his head.

Nope.

If you look closely at the story in Matthew 4, you'll notice something…

Jesus SPOKE Scripture!

And he ended with this:

"Then Jesus said to him, 'Go away, Satan!'" (Matthew 1:10, AMP)


"The Hub" has a funny story about a guy he used to know at work.  This guy was really frustrated with someone, and was telling my husband all the ugly things he said to that person.

"The Hub," finding it hard to believe that this guy got away with all the trash talk, asked him, "You said that?"

The guy kinda smiled and replied, "Yeah…on the inside."

Friends, we cannot afford to fight our enemy just "on the inside."

So if you want to fight well against a most-feared, but not so fearsome, enemy – talk back to him...

OUT. LOUD.

After all, he can't read your mind.


Yeah, I'm still afraid of the dark.

I still love flashlights, and night lights in every room.

I still check closets and under the bed from time to time.

But truly, the Bogeyman is just a figment of an overactive imagination, a myth, a legend.

And though our enemy is real, he is also rather insubstantial.

So if you ever find yourself tightly in his grip, take a good, long look at your hands.

Chances are, something's *fallen asleep* and you're only gripped by your own fear.

Your Father is right there.

And there is no one or no thing "under the bed" ready to snatch you away.


You are safe in His hands alone…

Jesus speaks...

I am
the light of the world.
Whoever follows Me
will never
walk in darkness,
but will have
the Light of life.

***REMEMBER to check out DAILY GRATEFUL THOUGHTS here***
  
(Updated DAILY GRATEFUL WORDS, A WORD FROM THE WORD, A "MESSAGE" FROM GOD, and FOOD FOR THOUGHT can be found on the sidebar.  Thank you!)




"O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I'm far away.  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know everything I do.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD." (Psalm 139:1-4, NLT)

"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." 
(Hebrews 4:16, NLT)

"Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]." (1 Peter 5:7, AMP)

"Then you will walk on your way [of life] securely and your foot will not stumble.  When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet." (Proverbs 3:23-24, AMP)

"'The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned.'" (Matthew 4:16, NASB)

"'I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" (John 8:12, NIV)

"Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4, AMP)

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:28, ESV)

"'...I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.'" (Matthew 16:18, NLT)

"Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you." 
(James 4:7, AMP)

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes…Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:11, 13, NIV)

"For the word of God is alive and powerful.  It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword..." (Hebrews 4:12, NLT)

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, AMP)



What is the *Bogeyman* in your life?  What are you afraid of?



Linked with:

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BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

I MISS YOU, DAD

This week I will mark the one-year anniversary of my father's passing.

What a year.

It's interesting to me how God works.  How sometimes He prepares your heart for something in such a tangible way.  Sometime during 2012, I had a strong sense that Dad's days were numbered.

In some ways, it wasn't a huge revelation.  Dad was completely bent over, so thin and feeble.  And his mind was rapidly receding into a faraway place.  He'd had a couple of mini-strokes in the previous years, and his diabetes was taking its toll.

But still...

He was DAD.

He'd always been a large figure in my life.  Literally, at 6'3" and around 230 lbs., he was a LARGE figure!  I can remember how some of my friends were intimidated by him.

One funny story?

My dad's mother and father loved to travel.  And they brought home gifts. One year, they gave my dad a black silk robe.

Flash forward to one night when a couple of guys thought it would be "great fun" to drive up our steep driveway, ring our doorbell, and peal out.  Well, they drove up our driveway, skidded into a planter, and tore up quite a few plants that You-Know-Who had planted (Dad!)

The car's tires got stuck in the mud – spinning out of control with no traction.

Suddenly, Mr. Martial Arts himself flung open the front door!

At the same time, the car found ground, and backed up at 1,000 mph, sped down the driveway, and drag-raced down the street and out of sight.

Dad stormed out the front door and waved his fist at the departing hooligans.

Dad asked, but I never 'fessed up to who they were.

A few days later, one of the guys, a good friend, told me how very, very scared they had been!  I think they thought that Dad had earned his black belt!!  


I digress.

But this is just one of many stories when Dad's literal physical presence was such a comfort to me, such a steady source of security.  And it serves to convey how very difficult it was to see this Ivy League college graduate (who exempted all his finals), successful small business owner, one-time elder in the church, all-around BIG guy deteriorate.

And yet, as I look back, I think God was doing a merciful preparation in my heart.  I knew Dad was going…and soon.


A year ago, my dad took a terrible tumble out of bed.  

I was down visiting my parents, but somewhere else at the time.  And this day, my youngest son *just happened* to be working downstairs on a project in my dad's workshop.

I got a call from him.

"Mom, you'd better come here.  Papa fell out of bed and he's hurt really bad."

Well, yes.  He was.  Very bad.

I remember calling 911.  I remember the wailing sound of the ambulance in the distance.  I remember the unsettling and rather creepy feeling of knowing that it was coming for us.  I remember riding over to the hospital in the front seat of the ambulance.  I remember hearing Dad crying out in pain in the back.

I spent every day with him during his week in the hospital.

I went and saw him at the nursing/rehab place he was transferred to.

I got called late one night to come over.  My dad was thrashing and yelling and trying to get out of bed.  They thought that I might be able to console him.

I dashed over, settled him down, and rubbed his forehead and eyebrows until he went back to sleep.

Little did I know that these would be my last moments with him.


I was awakened at around 3:45 AM just a day and a half later, with these words:

"Is this Sharon, Mr. N's daughter?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry, but he passed away."

The rest of the words are blurry.

I remember calling everyone in the family, waiting as everyone arrived at my parents' house.  Talking as we waited for my mother to wake up to break the news to her.  Her surprise at seeing all of us.  Me walking her back into her room to change out of her nightgown.

Watching her face begin to sense the truth.  

Hearing her words:

"Everyone's here.  That's nice.  Wait, did something happen to Dad?  Did he die?"

"Yes, Mom, he did.  It's going to be OK."

I held her.


These are just snippets from that time.  A time that came as a shock, but not a surprise.  You see, I feel that God had prepared me.  And when the moment finally arrived, I was upheld with a strength that could only have come from Him.

This week will mark the one-year anniversary of the day that my dad died. And yet, it really marks the day when he entered the presence of our Lord.

One year later, that makes all the difference!


I miss you, Dad, and I always will, until we meet again.


My poem for you, today.


I MISS YOU, DAD

Through life and death, I have seen it all
From the joy of celebration to the gray of death's pall,
And when the time came to say goodbye
There were moments when I wished that I could die.

For pain wounded sharp, with slashing blows
Bringing times when my hope was dashed so low,
Moments when the ache in my heart burned deep
Moments when the grief kept me from sleep.

But now a year later, I pause to recall
That your death wasn't death, not really at all,
For on that day when you left us behind
In truth our dear Lord was just being kind.

For He released you from the shell of decay
He brought you to Him on your homecoming day,
And though I will miss you every day that I live
I know there is a future that God has to give.

We will see each other once again I know
When in the Light of Heaven our faces glow,
And I will have joy, just as you do now
No more furrows will wrinkle my brow.

Freed by grace, enwrapped in love
One day I will join you in the sky above,
And then all my sorrow will fade and cease
For I will experience the depth of God's peace.

So until that day, Dad, I will hold you dear
And fight the battle against the power of fear,
For I know that there is something more to death
Than just the mere ending of earthly breath.

There is wonder when we reach Heaven's door
A beginning, a new start, and oh so much more,
For reality begins when we leave this land
Reality begins when God takes our hand.

Through life and death, I have seen it all
From the joy of celebration to the gray of death's pall,
But even though I've had to say goodbye
I know that truly, we will never die!


© Sharon Kirby
December 31, 2014

Do not grieve,
my dearest daughter.
We will meet
again! 

"My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion." (1 John 5:13, The Message)

"...in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead.  He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died...now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man...everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life." (1 Corinthians 15:20, 21, 22, NLT)

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, NLT)

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'  And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'" (Revelation 21:3-5, ESV)


Here's the Truth that serves as the beginning and the end, the *bookends* of our HOPE:

"Jesus said, 'It is finished.'" (John 19:30, NIV)

"'It is done!  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.'" (Revelation 21:6)



How does the hope of Heaven bring peace to you today?



Linked with:

SHARING HIS BEAUTY, PLAYDATES WITH GOD, UNFORCED RHYTHMS, MONDAY'S MUSINGS, MONDAYS AT SOUL SURVIVAL, MAKE A DIFFERENCE MONDAY, GOOD MORNING MONDAYS, SOLI DEO GLORIA, TELL ME A TRUE STORY, TITUS 2 TUESDAYS, TESTIMONY TUESDAY, TUESDAY TALK, UNITE, A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS, WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAYS, CAPTURE YOUR JOURNEY, TEACHING WHAT IS GOOD, THREE WORD WEDNESDAY, COFFEE FOR YOUR HEART, TELL HIS STORY, WISE WOMAN, COFFEE AND CONVERSATION, SO MUCH AT HOME, WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY, THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAY, LITTLE THINGS THURSDAY, EVERYDAY JESUS, HEARTS FOR HOME, GRACE AT HOME, SHINE, THRIVING THURSDAY, THOUGHTFUL THURSDAYS, FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY, MISSIONAL WEEKEND, FELLOWSHIP FRIDAYS, FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY, SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS, FAITH FILLED FRIDAY, COUNTING MY BLESSINGS, MAKE MY SATURDAY SWEET, FAITH & FELLOWSHIP, A GROUP LOOK, GRACE & TRUTH, STILL SATURDAY, SATURDAY SOIREE, WEEKEND BREW, RECOMMENDATION SATURDAY, SUNDAY STILLNESS, GIVE ME GRACE



BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

MY DAD - A LAST REMEMBRANCE

It seems fitting that I dedicate one more post to the recent death of my father.

And, what better way to do that than to talk about his memorial service.

First off, it took some planning.

You see, Dad never really wanted to talk much about it.  I can understand that – I mean, after all, who wants to talk about their death?

But, he did say that he didn't want it to be a big deal – and he just wanted family.  We honored those wishes.

We had some opening remarks, we had a prayer, we sang a song, and we read some Scriptures.  And then we opened it up for anyone who wanted to share something about my dad.

That was a precious time indeed.


I thought I'd tell you some of the memories I shared about my dad.

When I was a little girl, I can remember my dad coming home from work and sitting on the kitchen floor and playing *jacks* with me – (remember that game?!).  He always won because his hands were so much bigger than mine!

We used to pick my dad up from a commuter train that he'd take home from downtown San Francisco.  I'll never forget the day when I saw, in the midst of a sea of brown and black and gray suits, one arm raised high above all the rest, holding a red hula hoop.  MY dad – just for me!

My dad taught me how to ride a bike.  On the street.  With a huge downhill.  Dad's philosophy was that "it was better to learn how to ride where you're going to ride."  Of course, my learning curve involved one crazy, swerving, madcap tear down the hill – where I barely missed the neighbor's parked car, but plowed into their curb and landed (hard) on their front yard.

I don't think I need to tell you about the "adventures" learning how to drive a stick shift.  On the street.  With huge up and down hills.  I remember tears and white knuckles being involved…

Once there was a father-daughter dance at our church.  I was so excited to go.  But, in one of the only times I can ever remember my dad getting sick, he was too ill to attend.  Oh, how disappointed I was.  But, do you know how my dad made up for it?  He took me to a white-glove luncheon and fashion show at a local department store.  I don't think I've ever felt more grown-up.

Should I regale you with the stories of our lengthy bike rides, our hours of shooting baskets, our fun waterskiing, our many exciting vacations? The awful weeks of trying to do geometry homework with a dad who exempted his finals at Cornell?

Or how I earned frequent flier miles at the body shop next door to my dad's business – (hey, once I learned how to drive I was a maniac…).  Suffice it to say, among other accidents, that my dad lived to regret loaning me his Firebird to go to a church party.  Me, rain, a steep driveway, a sharp turn into the garage, and a retaining wall.  Enough said.

I'll never forget the years that I worked for him.  Having lunch with him every day.  Being proud of his pride in my hard work.

And I'll never forget what a great grandpa he was.  He attended everything that my sons were involved in.  Every school event, every game, every time they had something to do or somewhere to go – Papa was there.


You know, I could go on and on.  The memories flood my mind and fill my heart.

There are so many more stories – stories that I will reflect on in the future, stories that have woven together with my life as part of the tapestry that has become me.

But most importantly, beyond the memories, I will take with me the character and values that my dad passed on to me.

I am who I am today through the influence of Dad's personality and his love.  I am grateful that he was my father, and the grandfather of my sons.  He was a tough guy, but a good guy – and we are all the better for having known him.


In the days following the service, I've thought a lot about the word – legacy.

The dictionary defines it as this: Anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor.

Usually it pertains to material wealth and possessions.

But, I'm thinking more about the personal legacy you leave behind.  The footprint in the lives of others because you walked with them.  The things that they will carry in their hearts after you are gone.

What about those things?  The more and most important things?

What kind of legacy do I want to leave behind?

For me, it's all about God.

When the time comes that I leave this earth, what I want people to remember the MOST about me is that I loved and served and worshiped the Lord.

Sure, I hope my loved ones are comforted by fond memories and stories. I hope they can think of me with a smile.

But, more than anything, I want my life to have been lived pointing toward Jesus.

I can think of few better things to have someone say than, "You know, Sharon really and truly loved her Lord."

That's the legacy that I want to leave behind.

Because, if my loved ones and friends are left with that last enduring thought, grief will be tempered with hope, confident hope, in the eternity that God has planned for us.

This is what comforted me at my dad's funeral service.  And it is what will comfort me in the days and weeks and years that are left for me to live.

There is a life after this life.  It is eternal.  And we have been given the awesome chance to choose to live it in the presence of God.

Because of Jesus, Only You – we can have JOY forever.


May we live each day knowing this unchanging Truth, and may our lives reflect it.

For when all is said and done, it's all about God – in the beginning, in the middle…

…and in the end.

The grass withers and the flowers fade,
but the Word of our God
stands forever.

"Let all that I am praise the LORD;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the LORD;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins...
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things...

The LORD is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love...
He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.

The LORD is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.
Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
The wind blows, and we are gone—
as though we had never been here.

But the love of the LORD remains forever
with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children's children
of those who are faithful to his covenant,
of those who obey his commandments!

The LORD has made the heavens his throne;
from there he rules over everything.
Praise the LORD, you angels,
you mighty ones who carry out his plans,
listening for each of his commands.
Yes, praise the LORD, you armies of angels
who serve him and do his will!
Praise the LORD, everything he has created,
everything in all his kingdom.

Let all that I am praise the LORD."

(Excerpts from Psalm 103, NLT)


What is the legacy that you want to leave behind?


Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Laura at PLAYDATES WITH GOD
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Jen at SOLI DEO GLORIA
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Rosilind at A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS
Judith at WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAYS
Kasey at WALKING REDEEMED
Beth at THREE WORD WEDNESDAY
Jenifer at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Lyli at THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAY
Bonnie at FAITH BARISTA JAM
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Mel at ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS
Wanda at THE FRIDAY FIVE
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Sandy at STILL SATURDAY
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW
Salina at HEART REFLECTED
Janis at SUNDAY STILLNESS


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

JUST PASSING THROUGH

There are moments…

Moments when the reality of my dad's death catches me off guard, and the tears flow.

One happened the other day.

When we "inventoried" everything that we brought home from the rehab facility, I realized that two of my dad's shirts were missing.  No one else thought it was a big deal, but it was to me.  I wanted everything that belonged to my dad to come home.

So I called the nursing station, and they thoughtfully looked in the laundry area and located the missing shirts.

The other day, I went over to pick them up.

I was doing pretty good when I walked in the front door.  Had a very nice visit with the receptionist guy, who remembered my dad's name.  I was a little shakier when I walked to the nurse's station and saw, just a few feet away, the doorway to my dad's room.

I couldn't help but think, that’s the last place that my dad ever lived. It was weird and sad.

When they handed me the bag with Dad's shirts, I crumpled a bit.  Held it together through their very thoughtful condolences.  But then, when I returned to the car and climbed in next to "The Hub" – I lost it.  Cried and cried.  He felt terrible that he hadn’t gone in with me, but I told him it was OK.

It felt like a journey that I needed to walk alone.

As we were driving home, I took the visitor sticker off of my shirt, and placed it on the front of the bag holding my dad's shirts.

And that's when it hit me.

Dad is home!

He was but a visitor on this earth, nothing but a pilgrim passing through.

Aren't we all?!

Why do we lose sight of this?

Well, for one thing, we have an enemy who likes to keep us near-sighted. Why does he do that?  Because he's afraid.  He knows that if we focused on our future, our real future, our inheritance, then we just might realize who we really are…

…Children of the Almighty God.

And if we realized that, well, we might just become dangerous.

Strong, powerful, effective, unafraid.

You see, the enemy knows the truth of something we tend to forget – that when he looks at us, he sees JESUS!

Yup, JESUS – as in Risen Savior.

The devil might have cackled in victorious glee at the sight of a broken and battered body hanging on a cross.  But the empty tomb was no laughing matter!

So when he sees Jesus in us, he sees his greatest foe – our Victor.

And when one of us believers dies, well, he is reminded of his ultimate defeat and final judgment.

This is why he works so hard to make us think that this life is all there is. It's why he throws constant arrows at us – distractions, defeats, discouragements, despairs – to keep our vision blurred to the reality of who we are, where we're headed…

…and the ONE who made it all possible!


We're all travelers, pilgrims – sojourners on this tired old planet.

But we're headed somewhere.

And that's what we must keep our eyes focused on.

My dad has left the temporary depot that is this world.  He has boarded the Train to Eternity.  His REAL life has just begun…

Now I'm asking you – what if we all focused on that, and lived like we believed it?

Might we scare an enemy?!

I don't know about you, but I want to be dangerous!!

 This world is not my home,
I'm just a-passin' through,
I'm on my way to see Jesus,
How about you?

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.  And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.  So be truly glad.  There is wonderful joy ahead..." 
(1 Peter 1:3-6, NLT)

"You love him even though you have never seen him.  Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls." 
(1 Peter 1:8-10, NLT)

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.  For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.  And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." (Colossians 3:1-4, NLT)

"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.  Enter into the JOY of your master.'" (Matthew 25:23, ESV)

THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME

(Albert E. Brumley, c. 1937)

This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through

My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue

The angels beckon me from heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Oh Lord, you know, I have no friend like you

If heaven's not my home, then Lord what will I do

The angels beckon me from heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Just over in Gloryland we'll live eternally 

The saints on every hand are shouting victory

Their songs of sweetest praise drift back from heaven's shore

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Oh Lord, you know...

What keeps you from focusing on eternity?

Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Laura at PLAYDATES WITH GOD
Jen at UNITE
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Judith at WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAYS
Beth at THREE WORD WEDNESDAY
Jenifer at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Lyli at THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAY
Bonnie at FAITH BARISTA JAM
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Mel at ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS
Wanda at THE FRIDAY FIVE
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Sandy at STILL SATURDAY
Salina at HEART REFLECTED
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW
Janis at SUNDAY STILLNESS

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

HOMECOMING DAY - A Poem For My Dad

I originally wrote this poem when my grandfather died.  But, I really find it encouraging - so, I'm publishing it as I also think about my father's homecoming!


HOMECOMING DAY

Now the night is over,
Day has just begun,
Ushered into Heaven,
I am with the Blessed One.

Many have come before me,
Others have paved the way,
The angels sing His glory,
It’s my homecoming day!

To a mansion promised,
Where tears are forever gone,
Where light and love united,
Live eternally on and on.

All the past forgotten,
As a fog that’s swallowed up,
Pain destroyed, death defied –
I now drink from the Master’s cup.

I am here because of Him,
His selfless gift of grace,
And now for eternity,
I will gaze upon His face.

Glory be His shining robes,
Honor be His crown –
My spirit sings, my soul redeemed,
In His presence I bow down.

Now the world has passed from view,
The victory’s been won –
He says, “Well done my faithful servant,
Welcome home, my precious one.”


c. Sharon Kirby
March 1, 2002


Dear Dad,

I don't think words would ever be adequate to express my feelings at your passing.  It's one of those truly bittersweet moments in life.  I will miss you a great deal, but I celebrate that you are with Jesus and I will see you again!

As we prepare for your graveside service, these would be sad days indeed if not for the sure promise of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It's a wonder to me that He came to earth to rescue us – poor, lost sinners that we are.  He gives us a love and a grace and a mercy that sometimes makes no sense to me.  We certainly don't deserve it.  But oh, how grateful I am for a Savior who saw that we needed saving!

Dad, I hope you know that I think of you often.  Please know that you are never far from my heart, that you will live there every day until I see you again.  You were a great father, and I love you very much.

I'm going to picture you in the arms of Jesus.  Or maybe just walking along together, talking about this and that.  I can see you standing up straight, with that wonderful mind of yours restored to perfect functioning.  I see your smile. And it's a sweet, sweet picture indeed.


My deepest love,
               Your daughter forever,
                    Sharon



"But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.  And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself.  Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.  I am overwhelmed at the thought!"  (Job 19:25-27)

"Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord."  (2 Corinthians 5:8)

"'It is finished!  I am the Alpha and the Omega – the Beginning and the End…All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.'"  (Revelation 21:6-7)

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.  All these things are gone forever."  (Revelation 21:4)


I'm giving that a BIG AMEN!!


*What do you look forward to the most on your Homecoming Day?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"