It is my daughter’s birthday today. We have all become very inventive in our celebrations during Covid. As a family, but in two groups, we went through the woods at the back of my house, on a treasure trail in search of five twig stars and chocolate coins. There was a crisp frost when IContinue reading “61. Present at the birth (New Year’s Eve)”
Category Archives: Grieving
60. Speak the name
Today is the First Sunday after Christmas. It is also the Feast Day of John, Apostle and Evangelist. He was one of Jesus’ closest friends and probably wrote John’s gospel and three letters in the Bible. So, in this morning’s service we celebrated his life. Throughout the sermon, which focussed on John, I had aContinue reading “60. Speak the name”
59. No longer able to say, “Guess what…!”
Robert and I loved the works of the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, 1632-1675. He only painted between 35-40 paintings, one of the best-known being Girl with a pearl earring (c1665). We went to Amsterdam and Delft to celebrate our 50th birthdays with the express intention of seeing Vermeer’s works there. One of the pleasures ofContinue reading “59. No longer able to say, “Guess what…!””
58. Tim Keller’s greatest fear
Over the last months I have been following the news of Tim Keller, the well-known church leader and prolific author. For decades he has written books ranging over many subjects but always coming back to the character of God who has made himself known in Jesus Christ. Trusting in him affects every corner of ourContinue reading “58. Tim Keller’s greatest fear”
57. Grief and being-on-your-own
Last night a friend emailed me with the sad, sad news that her husband had had a cardiac arrest two days ago. Paramedics had been unable to resuscitate him. I was deeply upset. As far as is possible, I could imagine my friend’s emotion and shock. I was putting myself in that devastating place. InevitablyContinue reading “57. Grief and being-on-your-own”
56. Dying well… children suddenly orphaned
Very recently it was reported in an early morning news bulletin that there had been an accident on the A40 road out of Oxford. The road was blocked for hours. Throughout the day there were limited updates. Gradually the facts began to emerge. The previous evening a people-carrier had collided with a haulage truck. TheContinue reading “56. Dying well… children suddenly orphaned”
55. Are birthdays celebrated in eternity?
Today is Robert’s birthday. The children and I had a picnic together in my son’s short lunch break – two households, socially distancing. It happened to be in a cemetery, but that is only because it is the nearest green space to where he is working. We ate food that Robert liked, we talked aboutContinue reading “55. Are birthdays celebrated in eternity?”
53. Planting stories in the memory
Robert began his teaching career in Derby, where he eventually bought a two-bedroomed house. He sold it to pay his fees when he went to study theology. The four years spent in Derby were very significant for him not only as a teacher but as a fairly new Christian becoming part of a mission-focussed church.Continue reading “53. Planting stories in the memory”
52. Grief in the autumn
My older grandchildren came for a sleepover at the weekend. It poured with rain on the Saturday but on the Sunday the sun shone. We went for a damp but bright walk in the woods, collecting autumn treasure in a carrier bag. “Grandma, why have leaves gone red and orange just at the top?” “WhyContinue reading “52. Grief in the autumn”
51. Sudden death comes in many disguises
This has been a sad week. Two pieces of sad news. News of two sudden deaths. I’ve just heard that a few weeks ago someone I knew from a previous church had taken her own life. I had not been in contact for some time. She was a gifted poet who loved to use wordsContinue reading “51. Sudden death comes in many disguises”
Sudden death... then what? 