Dona

Job said, “The Lord gives,

          And the Lord takes away” -- 

                   It was a statement of faith –

But at a time like this it sounds so harsh and blunt –

          But that’s the way death – especially an untimely death-- is.

Like a dull knife – it cuts deep – and leaves lots of jagged edges.

We prayed for a healing miracle – so many times –

          and trusted God – 

One thing we know is that HE is Sovereign –

          But what does that mean at a time like this???

 He’s in CHARGE – and HIS purposes will reign.

 It’s HIS story and as time unfolds we will see HIS purposes in all of the hurt and loss – 

 Dona Butcher leaves a big HOLE where there was a lot of love and caring for others and talent and grace!!

It’s all been said – everyone has their Dona story – 

When Dona was hospitalized – and we had to fill all the hats she wore – we saw all of those areas of service where she had said simply said, “Bill and I can help with that”  were now needing attention.

She was always behind the scenes doing – making things easier – giving generously to a cause – helping at a work day – putting out the bulletin – organizing the communion prep.

She left so quickly . . .

One of my favorite times with Dona was the Christmas with Parkview that she and Bill supported.   

What I remembered most during this past weekend is Dona’s face and the sound of her voice as she told a story.

a little bit of a chirp—soft with a chuckle in their somewhere – with eyes that light up.

We celebrated Dona on  Friday at her Memorial Service, packing the sanctuary—

And yes, everyone has a Dona Butcher story. 
 
Mondo told of her friendship and devotion to her Bill

Terry told of her knocking down the wall on our last work day -and spoke of the walls we put up in relationships.

She left so quickly –  but she's not far away -- because she's with Jesus and as Terry reminded us -- when we're together with HIM - she's there also.

We all left her memorial service thinking we wanted to spend more time with those we love and make sure we told them how deeply they were loved. 

 

We celebrated on Saturday also –

with a ladies Crazy Hat  Luncheon that had been planned for weeks –

Dona was at every ladies’ get together and her family decided we needed to make it happen – because that is something Dona would have wanted.  Her mom saying, “She’d be disappointed if you DIDN’t”

 We weren’t sure how much of a party mood  we could be in– but Dona – we did it up big for you –wore our goofy hats --told your stories – thought of you—and missed you like CRAZY!!!!

 Remembering how her face would light up when she was excited, her eyes twinkling at the corners – 

I’d have loved to have seen that beautiful face as she first saw  her Jesus –

Passover

I often think of a family story that I can’t quite remember the details and think oh I so wish I could ask Mom about that --I should have written that down. She raised us with lots of family stories.

Yesterday when we had the girls I was thinking about the family stories I tell them about their Mommy and Uncle Marshall – I thought about how I’m the keeper of the of our family stories

– I  blog something I don’t want to forget  –I call it my electronic scrap book – sometimes it’s an impression God gives me as I go about my routine – 

or it’s pictures of family and the rush of love and blessing I feel when I look at them-

stories for my children and grand children 

in which I want our children and grands to see how our core values of faith and family comes together to create their spiritual legacy

Passover. I love to study this special feast that began when Israel was in Egyptian Bondage – In Jewish families the stories of the Lord are told and passed down by the parents.   

Over and over the stories of their faith are retold to their children. 

 Passover and the final exit from Egypt was one of those most often told at this time of year.   

Tradition has the youngest child asking 

the leading question about this meal

When Jesus put this small meal together  for the last time here on earth– he was looking at his favorite and closest people – he was looking at those to whom he was passing the legacy 

in a word he was saying --“Here’s what my life was REALLY all about.”

They were told to keep the feast or this ordinance for generations --- Jesus brought the Passover and the Lord’s Communion together. 

As he served up the perfect lamb that last Passover – he knew he WAS soon to BE the PERFECT LAMB.

What must have gone through his mind as he looked ahead to the coming hours?

THERE ARE SO MANY PARALLELS IN 

THESE TWO FEASTS:

Ø It took a death to observe this feast

Ø (It was about the blood)

Ø It was to be done regularly

Ø And kept forever

Ø It was done with careful introspection

Ø It was all about a lamb – as HE broke the bread HE knew he was the lamb

Ø He did it in the presence of his most loved

Ø It marked a coming time – Jesus said we would celebrate it in Heaven

Ø They recognized Him in the breaking of the Bread – the Passover initially was a time when they came face to face with their rescue from Egypt that brought them out of Egypt.

Ø We come face to face with our Rescuer each Sunday – the one who is going to take us out of this life and take us home.