“They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40 30-31
Last week, we lost my Daddy’s last surviving sibling, my uncle Wallace (Bubba). He had been failing, and so it came as a blessing for him. It was hard on his wife, Joanne and his immediate family of 18!
We will greatly miss Bubba, his kindness, his laughter and his loving ways. He was the father of three, in law of three, Papa to 12, and great grandpapa to 8. Wow! He and Joanne have been married 66 years.
Joanne has played the organ for the church in my home town for 60+ years. She has also been the choir director. She played at my wedding and Bubba sang. She also played at my daughter’s wedding while my Mama sang. She and Mama have been a team for quite a while! She taught me to play the organ (as much as possible), she taught me to knit, and she was my high school choir director. We have a bond.
Joanne is also failing and confined to a hospital bed most of the time as well. I visited with her on Thursday, and although I always knew she was a woman of deep faith, I saw first hand the strength of God in her. She teared up when I kissed her, and spoke softly. She recalled memories of her visits with Randy and me, and we laughed over good times when she and I played piano and organ duets in church. She was ministering to me. What strength!
The next morning, she insisted on dressing and going to say her good bye to her precious husband. With strength beyond measure, she did just that! When she got home, she announced that she would also be going to the funeral on a gurney, if necessary. No argument!! She did just that!
Such love and devotion between husband and wife is hard to find these days. I marvel at her strength, at her love of family, and at her love and devotion to God. She showed me that strength is renewed each day if we wait upon the Lord.
“Nothing is as strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.” St. Francis de Sales
You inspire me to get back to blogging! I love reading about your life experiences and the beautiful way you share your stories. Miss you and love you!