Strong Women of Faith

(Photo courtesty of freeclipartnow.com)

A friend of mine posted on her blog recently that one of the books she read with her daughters this past summer was Evidence Not Seen by Darlene D. Rose.  Though I haven’t read Darlene Rose’s book in a long time, my friend’s post reminded me about this most favorite book of mine.   It was a source of blessing and encouragement to me at a time in my life when I needed to be reminded that the Lord loves me and is still there even when it seems He had abandoned me.

I think another reason Darlene Rose’ testimony means so much to me is that she is the kind of woman I want to be: strong in faith, loving the Lord in the dark times, faithful in the hard times, trusting God thru it all. 

Another tremendous woman of faith that has shared her life’s experiences is Elizabeth Elliott.  I also highly recommend her books to women of any age –  her writings and teachings are timeless.

And I have the privilege of personally knowing such strong, humble, quiet, and faithful women.  Several are care givers of a parent or spouse and are dealing with far worse situations than I am; two others are young ladies in their 30s and have never been married, yet they live their single-ness with dignity, grace, and a precious smile; and the Lord has blessed me with the friendship of several teen girls that show me optimism and hope for a bright future lived in the center of the Lord’s perfect will for them.

These are the kind of woman I want to be, but in all honesty I cringe back from the possibility of hardship and suffering that the Lord often uses to show His mighty love and comfort.  I want the blessing without the pain!  

While I fail to be this kind of woman, I need to be around them – to see their smile in the midst of their struggle, to hear of the Lord’s comfort in the depths of their hurt, to read their testimony of how the Lord delivered them – because it encourages me and challenges me to do as Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14,  “... press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  

I may never reach my goal, may fall on my face and make a complete mess some days, but I take great comfort in knowing that, by the Lord’s grace, I am not what I used to be.  And that, more than anything, keeps me seeking the Lord for more grace and more strength.  The greatest blessing is that He is willing to give it ... I just need to be surrendered to receive it. 

      Caregiver, remember that you are loved with an everlasting love!  Stay on your knees, and keep looking up!

       Shared in love, 

                         Chris 

       

"The Dandelion", by Audella B. Evans

William"Bill" Evans, Sr.

Photo courtesy of Wayne Watson

On October 2, 2002,  my older brother, William Bernard Evans, Sr., died.  A blood clot to the lung was the diagnosis.  He was already dead by the time we received the call that something was wrong and Mom got to him, and it has always grieved her that she wasn’t with him when he took his final breath.

All of us in the family still miss him, but Mom does in a totally different way.  She doesn’t talk a lot about Bill as it grieves her too much, but I know she thinks about him all the time.  Whenever she does talk about him, she will tell me that parents are supposed to raise their children, enjoy the grandchildren, and die in a good old age.  Parents aren’t supposed to out-live their children.

But the Bible says in II Samuel 7:12 “And when thy days be fulfilled, ... thou shalt sleep with thy fathers,...”  Today, thirteen years ago, God’s days for Bill were fulfilled and the Lord took him home.  We all will make that journey, too, when our days are fulfilled.   

Mom has told me that she loves all four of us kids equally, but she dealt with us according to our need.  I know that she would grieve the same way if it had been me, or my brother Chuck, or my brother Doug that had died that day instead of Bill.  She will always be Mother ... we will always be her children, regardless of how old we all get or whether we are here with her or waiting for her in Heaven.  Mothers love that way: totally, unconditionally, and forever.  I’m so glad God made them that way and gave them such a huge capacity to love because I need my Mother’s love every day and in every way.  

Mom wrote the following on October 6, 2002, just before Bill’s funeral.  It was her way of sharing a precious memory of her first-born son.  I share it here in remembrance of my brother, Bill.  

Shared in love, 
                      Chris 

* * * 

The Dandelion

Written by Mom Evans,
October 6, 2002, to share the memory she had of Bill first bringing her flowers.

I shall never forget Bill’s little hand as he so proudly displayed me, carrying me as if I were a rose or a costly orchid, so beautiful and loved, admired and coveted by all.  But me, I grew wild, carefree, not cared for, destroyed by most, trampled sometimes. Often considered annoying for being a pesky one.  But I continued to bask in the sun and drink in the rain. Though I grew in poor soil, my roots remained.

I had a purpose in life.  God planted me there for Bill to come my way and choose me for his mother, who would love me anyway, regardless of my lowly existence.  She admire me so much because her son loved her and wanted a flower for his Mom.  As he grew into a man, bouquets of beautiful, expensive flowers he gave. But often still he would stoop down and again choose me.

Bill is gone to be with the Lord, but I will continue to grow wild and carefree, for someone like Bill – maybe, just maybe! – will choose me.

Dandelions photo courtesy of www.publicdomainpictures.net