05.31.06 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

Again in this week's UPdate, I have asked one of our most faithful leaders to write a thought or two to put in this spot. I hope you enjoy their perspectives and are challenged all the more that it is all about Jesus. Sylvia, one of the house church leaders from our 3rd Ave House Church is sharing her thoughts with everyone. Enjoy. --Mike


On Monday, March 13, 2006 at 10:15am my life changed forever. That was the moment I went into my mother?s bedroom to wake her up and discovered that she had passed away. Her fight against cancer was now ended. For over six months I knew that this moment would come, but I still wasn?t prepared for the finality of death. There were still things I wanted to talk to her about. I wanted to say a proper goodbye to the woman who had brought me into the world. I wanted our eyes to meet one more time, to share one more hug, to say one more ?I love you? before she was whisked away to be with Jesus. Instead, my memories of a typical Sunday together will be the farewell I will remember ? church, lunch, playing cards, watching baseball and basketball. (My mother often said that without ESPN and FOX Sports, there was nothing to watch on television.)

On that day, the grief journey began for my sister Lin and I. But we weren?t alone. Our spiritual families were right there supporting us with prayer, messages of condolence, and just letting us talk about our loss. Mike Jentes and Andy Belohlavek made the four-hour drive to be with us at the funeral service. They rejoiced with us when the pastor told us of her profession of faith the previous Tuesday. Many people had been praying for her salvation and we are eternally grateful that our prayer was answered!

You let us cry, laugh, and tell our Mom stories. You didn?t push us to ?get over our grief and get on with life.? You have been like Job?s friends when they first came to him to console him over the tragic loss of his children. They just spent time with him and showed him how much they loved him.

Your love for us was the best gift you could have given us. Since Mom?s death you have continued to nurture us physically, emotionally, but most of all spiritually. For that we will be eternally grateful. Jesus said that His disciples should love one another so that the world would know that they belonged to Him. Through your love for us, you have given the world a great deal of evidence that you are Christ?s disciples.
--Sylvia (with Lin May 31, 06)


the rest of thequest UPdate HERE