Postscript

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Michelle

From Michelle.  2 November, 2010.

Dear friends and family,

I woke up this morning with a sense of incompletion.  In my rush to press “send” I missed something in my last post.  What I missed was all of the joy.

The daily mountains, the dogged spirit, the weight of gravity, these are all present.  But so is joy.  And gratitude.  And love and laughter and life in all fullness.  God is so very, very good, because while the days are full of new disciplines, these are punctuated by so many sweet moments – our wonderful family, dear old friends and wonderful new friendships made, God’s good provision through all of you.  We all know that suffering brings out the most essential in life.  And so we give thanks daily for the amazing blessing we have received in all of those essentials: our three beautiful boys, our loving marriage, the beautiful roof over our heads, our wealth of friends and fellowship, the gorgeous scenery that surrounds us and most profoundly, our good God.  Life is difficult, but it is also whole and sweet and rich in so very many respects.  And so we DO rejoice, genuinely and often, amidst the ruins.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s!…Bless the Lord, O my soul!”  Psalm 103:1-5;22.

Love,

Michelle

» Click here to enter your well-wishes for Steve in the Guestbook This entry was posted in General Updates. Bookmark the permalink.
  • Deb Meske Thompson

    Amen to that!

  • Sandbar987

    The song Blessed be Your name by Matt Redman always makes me cry:
    On the road marked with suffering
    Though there’s pain in the offering
    Blessed be Your name

    Every blessing You pour out
    I’ll turn back to praise
    When the darkness closes in, Lord
    Still I will say

    Michelle, all that you write is so poignant and so familiar. When EJ was recovering from his stroke, there was so much joy in the progress, so much thankfulness for what was being gained, shadowed by so much concern about any plateauing, and knowing that not one step more of progress was promised or could be taken for granted. I will pray for all of you, and add a prayer of thanks that God has given you the wisdom to see the struggle for what it is – a day to day conquest. May he help keep you focused on the now while he tends to the later.
    Kathleen Barry

  • Pam Bryant

    So True! What a great encouragement for all on the journey of life

    I am continually blessed by your story and all that God provides when we love Him and pray without ceasing.
    I loved being a part of the worship night and benefit at UPC. The prayers and praises and Steve’s short sermon and his walking ability brought me to tears.

    Love to you all

  • Einar and Jody

    You are such a gifted writer, Michelle- the words you choose, your sentence construction and the way you craft your thoughts into words are such God given talents. We are so blessed by your gifts as you chronicle your family’s journey. Thank you. You all are included in a lot of people’s prayers, including ours.

  • Shehuy93

    The joy and beauty of the Lord is so evident even from this distance! Though many (in their blindness) may not see it this way, the blessing of the Lord is upon your family.

  • kris horlacher

    I am sure you have already heard about it, but I want to tell you myself about the service at Apex this past weekend.

    I sit in a section with my family and around 60-70 students and leaders involved with Young Life and UD Navigators. Many had already seen the video in my house. When it started you could feel the attention in the whole church. From the first sight of the helicopter, everyone was glued to the screen. First there were tears, then cheers. Hands were raised as God was praised for His work in your life. The very first hand I saw raise in honor to God was your brother’s. Your words were inspiring and spirit filled. Many, many went forward to the alter afterwards including young children and teens. Many more went behind them in support and prayer. It was beautiful.
    Because of the horror and the trauma and the grief of your situation, I wish this had never happened to you all. I am so very sorry for what you all have suffered and are still suffering. But at the same time, I am so thankful for what you have been given.
    I pray your healing continues in the same pace it has been or even quicker.

    kris horlacher
    dayton

  • Carlac

    Dear Michelle and Pastor Steve,

    As the Lord has blessed your souls, it is indeed passed to us. Dan and I are continuing in prayer daily for all the break through rays your write of!

    And, good Baptists we are, we’d like dancing lessons with you on Dec 14th, in Seattle. Love, Dan and Carla

  • Jeri

    “Let the glory of the Lord endure forever. Let the Lord be glad in his works. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live, I will sing praise to my God while I have my being”. Ps. 104: 31, 33. The joy always underwrites everything else. Thank you for the postscript. Never doubted that joy was always fundamental to who you and Steve are.

  • Melody DuBois

    As our family of four watched the posted video with apt and shiny-eyed wonder, our househelper happened to walk through. Her attention was immediately captured — “Oh!” she exclaimed. “He’s walking! Oh! Oh!” Turns out our helper Zeny has been praying for Steve ever since she first heard about the accident on the UCM broadcast. It was pure delight to share the video with her and see her joy in what God is doing!

  • Melody DuBois

    As our family of four watched the posted video with apt and shiny-eyed wonder, our househelper happened to walk through. Her attention was immediately captured — “Oh!” she exclaimed. “He’s walking! Oh! Oh!” Turns out our helper Zeny has been praying for Steve ever since she first heard about the accident on the UCM broadcast. It was pure delight to share the video with her and see her joy in what God is doing!

  • Ann van Wijgerden

    It’s as if in the darkness the light shines purer and brighter: In your suffering somehow the joy is sweeter, the love and friendship more precious, the laughter more joyous, the beauty of nature more glorious, and fellowship with God more ALIVE…
    Is this one of the mysteries of suffering: that we taste heaven, where there is no suffering?

    Thank you dear Michelle and Steve. God is transforming lives through you.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/KVXJMO6VUJE5MDRGIZU5SSIXJA Julie

    Pastor Steve & Michelle, you’re a couple which is just an indescribable gift from God!

  • Ally Coyle

    You just continue to amaze me. And God does too.
    Love, Ally

  • Carol Benoy

    Thank you for this glorious postscript!

    “Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee, hail Thee as the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away; giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.

    Mortals join the mighty chorus which the morning stars began; father-love is reigning o’er us; brother-love bind man to man. Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife; joyful music lifts us sunward in the triumph song of life.”–Henry van Dyke

    Indeed–1Bless the Lord , O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,”

    Joining the mighty chorus of joyful praise and thanksgiving with you–bound by the brother-sister-love which the Father-love enables,

    Carol Benoy

    Carol Benoy

  • Jocelyn_aromin2008

    Truly Michelle – there is no better place than to be in the center of God’s will…