Some (Good) News

October 29, 2021

I remember right smack dab in the middle of the COVID blues, one of our kids introduced our family to the YouTube channel, “Some Good News…” It was a welcome piece of genuine positivity - especially when days felt endlessly monotonous.

As I washed dishes this morning at the kitchen sink, I found myself lost deep in thought. Our days right now seem to blur together… They feel like a waiting and watching game - looking for the positive - while trying to wrestle with reality. 

It's been awhile since we’ve had one of those super hard conversations. Awhile - as in maybe two weeks…? The kind of conversation where you feel like you’ve been sucker punched in the gut, hit by friendly fire, or blindsided by a reality check. The kind of conversation where everything turns upside down and you’re literally shaken at your core. 

Today, we had one of those conversations. It was the timeline conversation... The best assessment of life expectancy in terms of how many more sunrises. Sunsets. Holidays. Family events. The experienced hospice nurse gave her best assessment - three months. 

I felt the chair lurch under me. My heart leapt up into my throat. The tears welled up and began silently rolling down my cheeks. I could not get them to stop. 

Silence -

I stepped out from within my mom’s sight - so she couldn’t see my pain. My heartache. She bore the news like the positive champ she always is. She rambled on and on about Heaven and how she would be with the Lord. 

And I was just stuck on three. Three months. That’s like 90 days. 

And I know God moves in whatever way He sees best… But, tonight I’m not sure I can wrap my heart around the number three. 

We talked through a few more serious matters… advanced directives… and then the nurse left - 

And slowly the very deep-deep, often hidden-away, truest-human part of my mom turned and asked, “Deb, my love… My heart hurts - may I please have some morphine?” 

She takes it like a champ… the hard task of resting and not moving about - conserving energy so she has some left to breathe. She generally has refused medicines in the past - trying to be brave and conquer things naturally. Now she bows humbly with a growing understanding - these comfort measures are our friends… Gracious, provisional help to carry us through these days. With a bit more rest. A bit more physical peace…

And I gave the dose and sat with her for just a bit… 

But, then had to leave to cry. To weep to my husband - the guy who got the first verbal version of three. Three months. 

And I breathed for a moment and moved on to share the news with one sister… and more tears fell. 

And time passed… the sun moved from high noon all the way to sunset. And we remained intact. We remain intact.  And somehow, by God’s grace, all is well with our souls. 

In the midst of this shadowy day - the clouds moved back for one brief second and the brightness of Heaven burst through. 
Some Good News - the Gospel - made an appearance… oh, not quite the way we envisioned - but in that Higher way. That Heavenly way… 

To be absent from the body is to be present with Christ. Seated at the right hand of God. Whole. Alive. Well. Healed. Sinless. Spotless. Redeemed. Anointed. 

The good news of the gospel says that death for those who believe in God is not the end of the story! 

On the hill of Golgotha, the Cross rose high…. knowing this day would come for us. He walked the long road of suffering so that in our suffering - we would know Hope! He took our shame, our sin, our punishment upon Himself - so that we would never be eternally bound by our sin… He made a way. 

The Road of Suffering. 

He bore the ultimate rejection and pain of His Father - so that we would never experience ultimate rejection. 

He cried  “It is finished.”

He went to the grave for us. And all became dark.

Silent.

Dead.

He trampled sin and death. 

And three days later… here it comes… the glorious news of redemption!

He rose. He rose. He rose!!

He was not bound by sin, but bore it. Conquered it!!

He rose that we might find the piercing illumination of Heaven bursting through the clouds on these shadowy days. 

And so we worked on that number three today. Grace gave us strength to tame it just a bit. Three - a glorious beautiful number. The trinity. Complete. 

Three days in the belly of a fish for Jonah to discover His Creator God. Three days in the grave for Jesus to make known His power… Three. 

His grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in our weakness. 

Even for three… 

(Here she sits… pouring out the last remaining drop of herself - on the altar of sacrifice. That the world might somehow know the depth of gratitude she has for her Savior and her deep abiding love for so many.)