Death - Black Friday

Death stinks. It is the curse of God at its worst.

Last month I attended a funeral of a young man from my hometown. His mother an active member in the church/community, it was torture to acknowledge her loss. Nothing can bring him back. And no matter how much I hurt for her, it doesn't help.

How can life stop so quickly? One day a person "exists", the next day... life is snuffed out.

I do believe Jesus came to redeem us from the curse. Only He can. As He redeems us, we have hope. We also still have consequences. Death is one of them.

Today was Black Friday. For my family it was Black, but not because of shopping. Today Daddy, Robert and I took my grandmother's sixteen year old dog to the vet to be put to sleep. I've never done that before.

I try to stay as far away from death as possible. In Ghana I have even risked the possiblility of being rude as I refused to enter a room with a dead body. I can list the loved ones on one hand which I have seen at a funeral. But today we took Grandma's dog in to the vet. She had an I.V. and they put in the injection. She simply became still, as if asleep. No pain, no barking, no strange breathing like they warned us. Just lifeless. Because she was. Just like that she was out of pain. Just like that she was gone. She took a breath and then the next moment didn't. They gave her back to us in a box, per our request. We took her home, buried her and now await the return of my grandmother who is out of town.

I've never cried over a pet before. Well, maybe a puppy that wouldn't nurse but that's not the same as a dog that's been around for 60% of my life. What's hardest is seeing everyone hurting around me and knowing that my grandmother has lost a loved one that was like her child! And again, nothing can ease the pain.

When we look at the results of the curse as a result of our sin we see its effects...things that hurt us...thorns, stickers, plants that hurt, dry ground that yields nothing, broken relationships and more. BUT these things we choose to "work around" in our life. People still grow plants with thorns on them because they yield something beautiful or useful. We still live where thistles, thorns and stickers grow. Where ants bite and bees sting, snakes slither and coyotes howl. But no one chooses to still live among death. It just happens. We fight it, try to reverse it but we cannot control it.

It makes me realize that we are not promised tomorrow. I've found myself feeling a bit sad when I think of what I'll miss out on in life as I move to Ghana, important moments, huge changes. People have asked what I would do if I lost a loved one or gained a new one in the family. What is this going move going to look like in its entirety?

I don't know. I don't know if I will come back to the US for every funeral. I don't know if I'll come back for weddings or births. I don't know. What I do know, is that I still have breath.

My hope and prayer is that with each breath I will not relax in regards to the Good News. If those around me can be gone in just one breath, then I need to make the most of each of mine!

If you are reading this and don't believe in God, I implore you...search for Him. Test Him and see that He is God. Without Him there is no hope. Without Him there is no redemption and no peace. With Him, we still reap consequences of the the way we are but He is WITH us. That's just from my own experience.

No man knows the day or the hour...we are not promised tomorrow...weep with those who weep...

Also, on a different note, let's not forget those around us who are hurting in their losses and will continue to hurt. Please let's not forget!

How to Travel Light!

Tips for traveling light (taken from observations in Ghana):

1. Take a handkerchief or small rag.

To be used for EVERYTHING from wiping your hands, nose, shoes etc. Wash it out each evening and let it dry overnight.

2. Take a handtowel to dry off after showering rather than carrying a normal sized bath towel. Use and hang dry after use.

3. Pack only one pair of undergarments, aside from the ones you wear. Each evening, in the shower, wash the pair you wore for the day and by the next evening they'll be clean and dry.

4. Pack one extra set of clothes, preferably light weight. Yes every other day you will be wearing the same outfit, but you'll be traveling lighter. Wash clothing articles only as they get dirty.

5. Rather than carry soap, facewash, shampoo, conditioner etc, just buy a travel size shampoo. if you can find a travel size shampoo+conditioner that's even better! But use the travel size shampoo as shampoo, soap, and even laundry soap as you wash your handkerchief and undergarments each night along with any other clothing articles.

6. Carry a little bit of money to cover traveling expenses and food while traveling. While at the family member's or friend's house that you are visiting they will furnish meals and a bed so no need to plan for that.

7. You might want to pack a pair of flip flops so you have a pair of casual shoes in addition to what you are wearing.

And that's pretty much it my friends! I watch men travel with a briefcase or small bag and women travel with only a purse. Its awesome! That is my goal to reach when travel...I have a lonnng way to go!

:) Happy Travels!