Two weeks ago, Friday, March 7th, marked the 9 year anniversary of God calling my Mother home to be with Him. He knew in his omniscience that she had completed all He had for her to do. I can honestly give thanks that the Lord saw fit for me to be my mother's daughter, even though only for a few short years. (13).
Through her death, he has taught me much, and continues to do so. As a young teen, he taught me mostly about trusting in His sovereign plan and about His comfort through the Holy Spirit. I believe I can understand why those without Christ in their lives are driven to extremes when faced with the loss of loved ones. I however, was comforted by my heavenly Father. Without his love, my life at that time would have been dreary.
As I grew older, God continued to show me more 'reasons' for the trial. Through my years in college, he has granted me with friends who also have lost parents. Some before we met and others after. And at those times, I was thankful for II Corinthians 1 and the verses there which confirm that if we suffer, we will be comforted, and we are to use that comfort that we received to comfort others.
Through every trial, God is to receive Glory. In the Gospel of John, Christ's disciples, when coming upon a blind man, asked Jesus who sinned; The man, or his parents. Jesus response shows his heart in all things. (vs 9) "...Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."
Through all of this learning, one verse has been a constant encouragement to me. It applies not only to the 'big' trials of life, but all the littler seemingly insignificant things, as included in the word ALL
I Peter 5:7
Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.
Although I sometimes do not understand all that He is working in my life, I can rest in this promise from my God. "He cares for [me]." As a result, I can 'cast all my cares upon Him'! He has been faithful to me and in return, how can I not cling to him as the solid rock and foundation of my life?
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
A Family Tapestry
My sister Alisha, posted about our family, and did a great job. I am not sure I could do better, so I copied her post and put it on here.
It seems appropriate to mention it now at this time, as this week marks 9 years since the Lord called my mother home to be with him. Sometimes it seems like yesterday, sometimes like it has been forever.
Here is the story as Alisha recorded it:
"Here is a bit of a story that I've always planned on telling - today just happens to be the day for it. It will explain why I've never shared any birthdays with one of my 'brothers' and why I didn't have a 'sister' until after I graduated from college. For those of you who know the story I apologize for telling you something you already know, but personally, I never tire of it!
My parents were missionaries in Chile for just a short time when my father became very ill. Surgery was required and cancer was found....cancer that did not give him very long to live. This is where I wish you could hear my mom's personal testimony and the wonderful answers to prayer she was granted during this time. A few months later in August of 1983 my father, Eric Rozelle, went home to be with his Lord and Saviour - Dad was 31, Mom was 29, I was 7, and Chad was just a few months old. A couple years later she returned, a single mom, to the missionfield. (Yes, you can laugh at the picture.)
My family remained in Chile until I was in college, returning every 3 years or so back to the US and Canada on furlough. We saw most of our family at that time but my dad's older brother was a missionary in Europe and our furloughs rarely coincided so we didn't see much of Uncle Dave, Aunt Lenore and our three cousins Lincoln, Helaine, and Kendrick. Then, in early 1999, they went through the same thing we had. After going in for routine surgery in Scotland, Aunt Lenore died unexpectedly - Lincoln was 19, Helaine 13, and Kendrick 11. She'd been a missionary for close to 25 years when the Lord called her home.
That's when things started to happen that left no doubt in any of our minds that the Lord was at work and in complete control. Now, we all knew this all along....but still, none of us would have chosen for things to go the way they had - to lose our parent/spouse. And yet, the intricate patterns and plans for our lives suddenly began to be knit together into one bigger tapestry. Later that same year my mom married Uncle Dave, my dad's older brother. Some raised eyebrows at the short amount of time that had passed - but our family, those that loved and cared for each one involved, knew it was the Lord's doing. So, my cousins became my brothers and sister and my uncle became my father. It was an answer to a prayer that had started in my heart when I left for college. Selfishly while growing up I'd wanted to keep Mom to myself, but when I left home I realized I didn't want her to be alone once Chad and I were gone. And all along the Lord knew that he had an answer for me - different than anything I would have come up with or even chosen and yet perfect....to make the Rozelle tapestry just what He wanted it to be.
Now this is a brief version told from my point of view that doesn't really do justice to the whole ongoing story of what God has done and is doing in our lives. But know this, we serve an all-powerful, all-knowing God and will continue to put the rest of our lives into His hands to do with as He pleases."
It seems appropriate to mention it now at this time, as this week marks 9 years since the Lord called my mother home to be with him. Sometimes it seems like yesterday, sometimes like it has been forever.
Here is the story as Alisha recorded it:
"Here is a bit of a story that I've always planned on telling - today just happens to be the day for it. It will explain why I've never shared any birthdays with one of my 'brothers' and why I didn't have a 'sister' until after I graduated from college. For those of you who know the story I apologize for telling you something you already know, but personally, I never tire of it!
My parents were missionaries in Chile for just a short time when my father became very ill. Surgery was required and cancer was found....cancer that did not give him very long to live. This is where I wish you could hear my mom's personal testimony and the wonderful answers to prayer she was granted during this time. A few months later in August of 1983 my father, Eric Rozelle, went home to be with his Lord and Saviour - Dad was 31, Mom was 29, I was 7, and Chad was just a few months old. A couple years later she returned, a single mom, to the missionfield. (Yes, you can laugh at the picture.)
My family remained in Chile until I was in college, returning every 3 years or so back to the US and Canada on furlough. We saw most of our family at that time but my dad's older brother was a missionary in Europe and our furloughs rarely coincided so we didn't see much of Uncle Dave, Aunt Lenore and our three cousins Lincoln, Helaine, and Kendrick. Then, in early 1999, they went through the same thing we had. After going in for routine surgery in Scotland, Aunt Lenore died unexpectedly - Lincoln was 19, Helaine 13, and Kendrick 11. She'd been a missionary for close to 25 years when the Lord called her home.
That's when things started to happen that left no doubt in any of our minds that the Lord was at work and in complete control. Now, we all knew this all along....but still, none of us would have chosen for things to go the way they had - to lose our parent/spouse. And yet, the intricate patterns and plans for our lives suddenly began to be knit together into one bigger tapestry. Later that same year my mom married Uncle Dave, my dad's older brother. Some raised eyebrows at the short amount of time that had passed - but our family, those that loved and cared for each one involved, knew it was the Lord's doing. So, my cousins became my brothers and sister and my uncle became my father. It was an answer to a prayer that had started in my heart when I left for college. Selfishly while growing up I'd wanted to keep Mom to myself, but when I left home I realized I didn't want her to be alone once Chad and I were gone. And all along the Lord knew that he had an answer for me - different than anything I would have come up with or even chosen and yet perfect....to make the Rozelle tapestry just what He wanted it to be.
Now this is a brief version told from my point of view that doesn't really do justice to the whole ongoing story of what God has done and is doing in our lives. But know this, we serve an all-powerful, all-knowing God and will continue to put the rest of our lives into His hands to do with as He pleases."
Lincoln and Sheena
I have one brother that does not live in South Dakota. He and his wife Sheena live back home in Scotland with their little girl, Layla Helen. They are involved in their church and the Ministry of Navigators. It has been a long time since I have seen them, over two years now, but we are hoping to be reunited Christmas 2008.
In September, they are expecting their second child and we are all very excited to see who God brings along to our family next. Seems as though this little baby will be the next addition to the family. (Our current family as it stands will be blogged about soon.)
The Rozelles as they stand for right now.
Layla with Mummy Sheena. (Sorry, I don't have a better picture.)
Layla opening a present with Daddy Lincoln.
Just a fun one of my brother and sister.
In September, they are expecting their second child and we are all very excited to see who God brings along to our family next. Seems as though this little baby will be the next addition to the family. (Our current family as it stands will be blogged about soon.)
The Rozelles as they stand for right now.
Layla with Mummy Sheena. (Sorry, I don't have a better picture.)
Layla opening a present with Daddy Lincoln.
Just a fun one of my brother and sister.
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