Apr
30
2019
A New Chapter
Posted in Faith 6 Comments
I remember the house.
I could look up through the woods and see their roof.
It was comforting to know they were there.
We both built our houses; they stayed in their home, while we moved again after ten years.
Our husbands worked together.
We became friends and still get together for breakfast as often as we can.
Our children went to school together.
Their two daughters and my two older daughters were friends.
Many happy memories were shared through the years.
Birthday parties, play dates, and prom pictures all happened there.
I remember when they built their home.
They moved in before us.
Since the men were both engineers, they talked about the mechanical things of the house.
I still remember they had one switch that turned on all their Christmas candles.
I was always amazed at the little touches that made the house unique to them.
We had to drive around to their house, since the hill was a bit too steep to climb.
Their three children are grown.
They are grandparents to six “littles” as she longingly calls her grandchildren.
It was time to downsize a bit.
It was time to move.
I remember the email that was sent, informing a few of us of their upcoming move.
I remember being surprised but not surprised.
I sent a text before Christmas to get their new address so I could send a Christmas card.
It seemed strange to see a different zip code, though they did not move terribly far.
They had already bought their house and were doing things slowly before they moved in.
They were to move in after Thanksgiving.
The movers were scheduled to come at the end of November.
The day the movers were to come brought unexpected weather.
Ten years ago, their youngest daughter was killed in a horrible car accident.
She was an innocent victim that day on the road.
The community was devastated.
Friends and family grieved deeply.
Each year, I remember.
Each year, I write thoughts to her parents, our friends.
It is inconceivable that ten years have past.
Her parents and her siblings would not be standing, if not for the Lord.
Her parents’ prayer was to bring glory to God through the death of their daughter.
God has answered their prayer abundantly.
Many people have come to know the Lord through their testimony.
They are thankful, but of course they would have preferred any other way.
There is no set time to grieve.
There is no set time to change the bedroom of the person who is no longer there.
There is no set time to give away the clothes or the belongings of their loved one.
The things that were left to do, now demanded attention with their upcoming move.
Their new house was smaller.
They had to be selective in what they could bring with them.
My friend knew that she had to go through boxes that had not been opened in a while.
My friend dreaded the thought of the task before her.
On the day of the move, we had our first snowfall.
The movers came to their house to move their things to the new house.
The snow and the ice was making it too dangerous for the movers to continue.
The movers would bring the few things on the truck and come back another day for the rest.
The ramp was too icy for the movers to maneuver safely.
The movers left and went to the new house where the husband waited.
He called his wife to tell her that he would drive over to get her.
She told him to stay where he was; she had blankets and a pillow and would sleep there.
On the first official night, when they thought they would be together, they were apart.
He in their new house; she in their old house.
The unwelcome task was before her.
She needed to tackle the closet, and the boxes, and the memories, alone.
The thing she dreaded doing needed to be done.
She got on the floor and went through her daughter’s things.
The tears flowed freely.
She was alone, but not alone.
No one could have completed that task but her.
The house was sold.
The memories will always be in her heart.
However, the physical house now belonged to someone else.
I listened as she told me the story.
What a gift you were given, I told her.
The loving kindness of our God.
God softly, and ever so gently, helped you turn the page, I added.
It is not a new book as much as it is a new chapter, I remarked.
God was right there with you, helping you turn the page.
She was spent, there on the floor of her daughter’s room.
God used a snowstorm, so that something difficult would be done with Him.
I felt tears in my eyes as I listened to her.
She and her husband had prayed for the opportunity to see the new owners.
They wanted a chance to talk to them.
It was almost as if the baton needed to be officially passed.
God answered their prayer.
Through their real estate agent, the couple asked if they could come over to the house.
My friend was so thankful.
What should have been a short visit, ended up being two hours.
They walked through each room.
They walked through the basement and the men talked about electric boxes and such.
It was upstairs that the story unfolded.
It was upstairs, after walking into their daughter’s room, that my friend wondered.
How much she should share about the tragedy they walked through in that home?
She prayed for discernment.
She knew she had to share the story.
The new owners saw their grief, that is still palpable ten years later.
There was empathy and compassion in their tears.
It was good; it was cleansing.
It was a new chapter of the same book.
A page was turned with God’s hand guiding the turning.
When Christmas came, my friend received a package.
The new owners had given them a gift.
They had taken a picture of the house and had a lovely ornament made for their tree.
The years that my friends lived in the house were inscribed above the picture.
There was closure.
A new chapter had begun.
The old chapters are there to cherish and to remember.
The story is still being written.
It is a good story.
It is a bittersweet story.
It is an ongoing story.
It has many more chapters, as God ordains.
My friend is fine.
The baton was passed when the house keys were given to the new owners.
Something happened on the floor of her daughter’s room that snowy night.
Immanuel, God with us, turned the page.
Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. (Psalm 127:1-5)
Gina,
Thank you for putting those words down, God uses you, but I also know that you were a careful listener to Carolyn. I also know that God himself has given you this precious talent.
PTL
Carol
Thank you, Carol. I take seriously the telling of someone’s story. This was a story that I had full permission and encouragement to tell. May it bless even one person and point them towards God and His tender mercy.
Gina
There was no doubt in my mind whose story you were sharing. It is unbelievable to me that this tragic needless accident was 10 years ago. It amazes me how our Lord brings such special friends together. He seems to place those who He knows we need in our lives before us. God is so good.
Amen, Linda. Those of us who know and love this family, know their pain. We also know the good God we serve, who continues to tenderly care for them.
Gina
Only you could capture our recent conversation so beautifully, Gina, with such articulation and tribute to God’s amazing grace and goodness upon our family as he walked us through yet another challenging ‘new season’ in life. A ‘new chapter’ in our story–His story– as you eloquently express…lovingly affirming us along the way through all the details and stresses that come with a move. New chapters in life are not always easy to embrace but welcoming them in God’s leading and strength make them more endurable, strengthening our faith and giving us the confidence that all will be well as we trust him into the next chapter. Thank you always for your God given words of encouragement and his forever promises!
Carolyn
Oh, Carolyn, I wanted to tell your story gently, yet give God the glory. I am so humbled that you were blessed. You are loved.
Gina