God Isn't On Vacation

Bunny and I walked back to the hotel feeling a little down. We were away from home, missing family and friends, and even though we are enjoying the rest and the city, well, you know. We got back and the room hadn't been cleaned which is very unusual, so we called to find out when they were coming. The desk clerk said she'd send someone right up. That someone was Jaime R. (last name withheld for privacy)

Jaime moved here from "the country" where her Daddy helps launch boats on the bayou. She moved here for work, and she's still working out a 90 day probation  So she was efficient but a little stand-offish when we tried to reach out to her. She didn't want to talk about holidays or family. But Bunny and I kept at it, and got her to talking. When I said I was a pastor, she sort of seemed moved emotionally. 

It turned out she had more than homesickness going on.

She asked for prayer and Bunny and I gathered her hands in ours. That's when we found out that she is having a sonogram due to a possibility of breast cancer on December 8th. Her Mom had an aneurysm earlier in the year which she survived and Jaime did not want to tell her about the cancer, but needed to tell someone. And we were God's choice. 

God's timing, friends.

God's provision.

Pray for Jaime Richardson. Pray that she might be found cancer free. Pray for her family, for her job here at the hotel. Pray that God would show her every day in every way just how much He loves her.

I guess God doesn't do vacations. :) Or maybe He does. :)

And I guess we know why Bunny and I were here in New Orleans today.

Think of all the things God aligned today so that Jaime might know she is loved and we might know God can use anyone, anytime.

What could He do for you?

What could you do for Him?

May He richly bless your Thanksgiving tomorrow,

David

still amazed at God's work -

A baby can change everything

We just finished a great week here with our oldest son Adam and his wife Shonda. I really hated to see them leave. Over the years Bunny and I have become more aware than ever of just what family means and how precious these times when we get together truly are. I miss them already, but I'm glad they got back to Georgia safe and sound.

Yesterday was Adam's birthday anniversary. His birthday happened on August 11th, 1978 in Macon, Georgia.

Adam changed everything.

Sure I had thought about being a father - had always thought I'd be one - but on that day when Bunny and Adam rolled out of the delivery room - I was his Daddy.

I didn't feel up to it at first. I mean that yes it had happened, but I had to grow into the job.

I went back to my job and it wasn't good enough - now that I had a family to care for. That began my real effort to progress in my job. It caused both Bunny and me to look at our priorities and decide that we were going to give Adam (and later Sean) everything we could give them to help them have every chance to succeed as they grew up.

Decisions began coming at us that would have never happened before. Adam was being cared for by a private day care person. One day early in he had a scratch on him that we didn't get a good explanation for. We decided to take the ridiculous step of having Bunny quit work and stay home - which she did until both boys were well on their way in school. With the boys grandparents we placed both boys in private school to give them that head start. I returned to college to get the degree that I should have had before Adam was born.

Time and time again we prayed for wisdom and acted on what we believed God would have us do.

I looked at Adam yesterday and saw a great husband, a good man who tries to do the right thing in every situation. Around the first of the year we believe he'll get the same shock I got when he holds his son or daughter in his arms. The difference is that he's been through fires I never had to go through, survived them, and he's taking the right steps way before I did. He's returning to college this fall to get a degree that will mean a lot to his family going forward.

I could not be more proud of him.  I have been so blessed with an awesome wife and two great sons.

But today I'm remembering the baby that changed everything.

Home and away

Bunny and I made the trip up to Macon Friday and came back late this evening. Since last September we have driven over 20,000 miles. Given we have not gone on vacation, and typically a tank of gas lasts us 3 weeks, I'm going to say that trips to Macon make up the bulk of that.

When Bunny's Mom came down with the illness that eventually claimed her, we started making the trips. Sometimes they were emergency got to get there right now whatever day it is dashes. Most were go up Thursday evening, get there before 1AM Friday, then hit the ground running later that morning. I lost track of how many times we went, but toward the end it went to every other week, and then every week. Since Bunny teaches piano during the week, she can't phone it in - she has to be there. And since I'm a pastor, my Sunday's are tied up. So I switched my off day to Friday, and Bunny cleared hers too. And we went - all through the fall, into the winter, and to the cusp of Spring. We were totally focused on Dot and willing to do whatever it took to help her get well and help Curtis cope. She was THE priority.

But we lost her.

And the aftershocks in Bunny's heart continue. Bunny slept almost all the way back home tonight. I think she was just emotionally spent. The trip was almost as tough as the one we took to be at the funeral.

This weekend was at her father's request - to clean out Dot's closet. To give you an idea of how hard this is for Curtis (Bunny's Dad) - he changed closets rather than be faced with Dot's clothes every day - without Dot. My mother in love was a beautiful woman with the taste to match. Bunny carefully gathered, then separated and placed the clothes in black plastic bags - crying as she did so, because over and over and over again she remembered what her mother looked like in those clothes.

On Dot, they were beautiful.

But now they are just clothes. Nice clothes. Certainly still can be used. They will look good on the right person.

Yet Bunny and her dad KNOW what those clothes could look like.

I'm sitting here thinking that when Bunny, Curtis and I read and think about heaven and its beauty, we're as limited as the folks who will receive those clothes.

Dot on the other hand, KNOWS what heaven looks like.

And my thanks to God for that will be the last thought before I fall asleep tonight.

Just DO it.

Go here, and read this and DO something!

Whatever you can do - do it

Back from a couple days in Macon helping Bunny care for her Mom. She's so intense at doing that when we are up there that even though I want to do everything I can do, many times I am one step too late. She's already at it when I'm just getting up.

It would be a great joy to report that Dot is much better, but I cannot. We keep hoping that she will begin eating enough to help her body heal. I watched Bunny and her dad do everything they could think of to get her to eat even a little. I did contribute a Wendy's frosty that Dot ate a little of. Maybe next time up I'll get her a NuWay.

Dot recognized Bunny and me immediately. She watched TV, read magazines, laughed with Bunny at you tube clips, and as long as she could hear you was engaged in the conversation. Dot's still Dot. Frail, yes, but she's such a treasure.

I hope everyone that enters her bedroom tries to get her to eat something.

I'm very tired when I write this, but I want to put this out there for anyone who might read this blog (I know there must be someone :) ).

If you still have your parents - honor them with your prayers, with your presence, and with preeminence of priority when you are with them.

In other words - it ain't about you.

It's about them.

So come visit to listen. Talk with them about things they want to talk about. Listen to them even if they tell you a story you have heard before. Bring in life and encouragement - sow hope! Give them every moment's attention you can for as long as you are there. Be available to do whatever they want you to do. They've given you more time than you'll ever realize. Time to pay it back.

For you will not always have that chance.

Thin Places, Beautiful Faces

We're in Macon's Medical center of Central Georgia as I write this. Bunny's by the bedside of the woman who carried her for nine months and who modeled faith, grace, kindness and compassion to her all her life.

It's been a week of amazing glimpses of just how God works, despite the mess a sin soaked world presents as "life." We've heard some heart-wrenching words, and some that were as joy filled as any I have ever had occasion to overhear. There's been devastation, and there's been hope. And now, there's the knowledge that we are as close as we can be, doing all we can.

The ancient Celts used to talk about "thin places." They thought that certain features of the landscape - ancient oaks. mountains, beautiful rivers or ocean vistas were sometimes places where one could feel the very presence of God.

Well, I sit in a chair on a tile floor. To my right - a sink with various means of scrubbing the germs off. In front of me is the dry erase board with the date and the names of the nurse and aide. Nothing remarkable there. Nothing to inspire, or even remind you of a present God. Instead of the roar of ocean waves or the gentle rustle of oak leaves, I hear the air mattress compressor and the sounds of a hospital.

There's nothing lovely here... except the faces of two of the women who have taught me so much about what it means to have real "God will provide", "Satan is that the best you can do", "O death where is your sting", "This is not the end," - FAITH.

In this room, God is present - available - tangible --- right now.

and I am simply in awe of Him

and grateful for these two precious gifts.

On This Day In History

December 1973

Monday 03: Pioneer program: Pioneer 10 sends back the first close-up images of Jupiter.

Tuesday 18: The Soyuz 13 was launched.

Sunday 23: A Sobelair Caravelle passenger jet crashes in Morocco, killing 106

Tuesday 25: The ARPANET crashes when a programming bug causes all ARPANET traffic to be routed through the server at Harvard University, causing the server to freeze.

Friday 28: Alexander Solzhenitsyn publishes Gulag Archipelago

Sunday 30: David Wilson and Bunny Clinard are wed at Bethesda Baptist Church in Macon, GA

I'm saying that last one had the greatest effect on all mankind. :)

Happy Birthday To Bunny, My Love

Here's a picture of Bunny and Dot in the hospital after Bunny was born. This year's birthday isn't the happiest with Dot still recovering in the nursing home, but it was so important to Dot that she wish her daughter happy birthday that she had Bunny's dad call. There's a special bond between them and it is great to see them together - then and now.

Happy Birthday, Bunny.

"Having loved..."

We just got back from another trip to see Bunny's Mom at the nursing home in Macon. We got there at 11:59 PM Thursday night Eastern Time, and returned here at 4:30 Central time today. While we were there, Bunny went with her Mom to an appointment Friday morning at the Wound Care Center downtown near the Med Center. I drove down with her dad and Bunny rode in the van with Dot.

Then we spent the rest of the day Friday with her and some of the day today. Bunny helped her with her makeup, painted her nails... and encouraged her Mom. We even had NuWays for lunch yesterday. :)Now those are good for whatever ails you.

There's so much going on with so many decisions yet to be made concerning Dot's care. My father in law, Curtis Clinard, is one of the finest men I have ever known. He's there every day twice a day to sit with his bride. He talks at length about how much he wants her home - can tell you to the day how many days it has been since this whole sad period started. At a time in life where other men shrink in their commitments to their wives, if anything, his has grown.

Bunny is constantly thinking about her Mom, and while she is there is so focused on her that when we get back here she is drained for a day or two. Those of you that know Bunny know that she is all girl. Well, she is all that, and more. She's giving everything she has every time we go there to encourage, to help, and to serve her mom - in ways she has never done before.

When I look at those three people, I realize that so much of what I cherish is in that room. So many of the lessons of how to live the Christian life I've caught from just watching them.

Some of the translations open John 13 - the Passover meal with Jesus realizing that the disciples have either forgotten or are ignoring a pressing need to have their feet washed. It was a slave's job, really a slave third class. Jesus was there that night to share some important information with them, but He was also there to show His love.

Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end.
John 13:1 (MSG)

"Having loved"..."he continued to love them right to the end." That's Jesus - love

I know to the depths of my soul that Bunny will do just that for her Mom and Dad.

What a blessing God gave me when He gave me Curtis, Dot, and my treasure - Bunny.

This Is Why We Go To Macon

I go to see those two smile. :)

Light up a room - yes they do. Always have, always will.

Look what I found :)

Bunny asked me to scan a picture while we were up here of her Mom. Well look what else I found. Now that's a girl you can just look at and know she's only going to get more beautiful. And she did. :)

Devastating :)

Actual conversation just now in the Wilson home.

David: (Looking at stats on the website) "Someone's downloading my sermons."

Bunny: "Well it's not me."

insert sound effect of wounded male ego here. :)

She's All That

“Honor your father and mother.
Ex 20:12 (NLT)

We got back from Macon this afternoon. Bunny tried to sleep in the back of the Kia the first couple of hours, and right now as I type this, she's been in bed an hour. She's worn out. From the moment we arrived at the hospital Thursday, to the moment when she hit the wall this morning after two days without rest and very little to eat - she gave everything she had to her mother's care. She was "broken and poured out" for her mother.

You'd have to be there to see it. And her mother is very aware IMO of just how much her daughter loves her. The change in her attitude during the course of the first 24 hours we were there was remarkable.

I'm so proud of Bunny and so grateful that God put her in my life. The last two days have been the best illustration of servanthood I have ever seen.

And I love her so.

New Picture

Maybe Next Time

Have I mentioned how much I love you lately, Bunny? :)

My wife and kids have always been part of how I've lived out my calling. It's pretty difficult not to use our lives together as sermon illustrations. But I agree with the women in the video, there certainly is a limit.

If I've crossed it, my apologies.

(Oh and Bunny knows I'd love to have her Mother and dad come live with us, and they have no dogs - we're the dog people - got 155lbs of one. So the video loses some effect here, but for all the rest of you guys. :) )

HT: Bill Allison

Wedding Pictures from Dec 30th, 1973

Our oldest's comment when he viewed these was "daddy married up". Uh, yeah.