"faithing"

We have had a sad week.My husband's sister, Jeanette, died unexpectedly on Wednesday. She had had a stroke the week before and malignant masses had been found on her liver and pancreas. I've mentioned Jeanette in this blog before. She was raising her grandson, now age 15, because his mother is a meth addict. My husband always said Jeanette was the hero of his family. My husband and Jeanette telephoned weekly. She visited yearly and in these phone visits and on the porch they would talk and laugh and reminisce for hours. I see him staring out the window and ask what he is thinking. "Jeanette."

Jeanette's biggest concern was she would die before her grandson was grown. She often said, "I pray I live until he's 18." Well, she didn't. The only good thing in this is with the stroke and ensuing coma she didn't have to linger and worry. He is a wonderful young man. She has done a magnificent job in raising him. He has faith. But what losses this kid has had! He will be taken care of by another of Jeanette's sons and his family now.

Coincidentally in our meditations this week there was a devotion on "faithing." The writer gave this word as another word for "grieving." His point was that in times of grief sometimes the only thing is to hold on to our faith. There are no answers to "why Jeanette?"--"why now?" There is only faith that God is with her, with her grandson, and with us. Faith in His promise.

God give us the strength of faith in our loss and grief.

Blessings-Penny