An old Bible teacher often said, “The best one to minister to a frog who has been run over by a wagon wheel is another frog who has been run over by a wagon wheel.” That was his interpretation of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 which reads, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to…
I’m amazed at Jesus’ sufficiency for every situation as I walk this new path of widowhood. When I need tax advice, a trusted, competent advisor appears. When I am faced with questions about the farm and its daily operations, He provides people in the know. When I need energy to clean out a grossly overly cluttered garage, He supplies the motivation, a dear sister-in-law to help, and willing hands to carry off the unneeded plunder. When I need to…
In reading over my dad’s letters written in May of 1945, 73 years ago, they showed that time proved to be extra-stressful. World War II had just ended with Germany, but not Japan. The battle-weary GIs longed to come home. A different rumor flew at least once a day. Would they be allowed to come home? Would they have to stay in Germany as part of the occupied forces? Would wives and children be allowed to join the GIs if…
Life. Sometimes it’s good–sometimes it’s bad. I take comfort in knowing whatever happens is no surprise to my Heavenly Father. He’s planned all my days before I lived one of them according to Psalm 139. On those days when it feels like I’m at the plate and a 95-mile-an-hour curve ball just hit me in the stomach, it helps to tell Jesus exactly how I feel, even though He knows every detail. For me, it comes out best if I…
As I begin to walk this new, unfamiliar path of widowhood the Lord has reminded me that He has a special place in His heart for aliens, widows, and orphans. Isaiah 54:5a says, “For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the Lord of Hosts.” He is demonstrating that scripture me in very practical ways. Now I must make decisions not only for daily living. I have to have wisdom for things I know nothing about, like our…
Each January signals a mad scramble to enter the Oklahoma Writer’s Federation contest before the cut off date of January 31. This year I was ahead of the game. I entered thirteen categories on January 8. This last weekend I attended the conference in Oklahoma City. On Saturday night they announce the winners. As I sat at the banquet awaiting the results I noticed a strange irony on my entry list. My entries included titles such as Good Memories, Last Farewell,…
As this month of April draws to a close, the prompt on Poem a Day Challenge for the 30th was “closing time.” This is the poem I wrote to the prompt. Saturday, April 21, 2018 At 3:00 p.m., we gathered ’round husband’s bed in the Hospice Hospital to bid him farewell. As we sang to him, his breaths came in short puffs with longer spaces between. “We love you, Dad.” Said one. “Thank you for your leadership.” “I’ll miss you,…
Thin Thread tethers husband to this earth which he walked for seventy-seven years. He stares at his new surroundings at Hospice House. Tell him repeatedly when he asks, “Where am I? Why am I here?” Pray the angels come quickly with their sweet chariot to carry him home. Note to reader: Two days later the angels conducted him into Jesus’ presence. To see my books visit http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007F5H0H4 God’s Little Miracle Book is now available in audio at https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/sally-jadlow/1303687606 for iTunes and…
Since it’s still April and the Poem a Day challenge is going on, I’ll post another poem I’ve written this month. In the prompt given we were to add a word to “weary.” Battle Weary came to mine immediately. Battle Weary Fall into bed, exhausted after a day at rehab as I’ve watched husband struggle to regain strength. Scruffy four-day beard, wasting body of skin and bones, peek from covers as he falls into deep, drug-induced sleep. His valiant effort…
During April and November Robert Lee Brewer, Poetry Editor of Writer’s Digest, posts daily prompts. Poets can post their work online at http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2018-april-pad-challenge-day-2. I have decided to chronicle what’s happening in our lives at the moment as the theme for this month’s poems. I’m not posting them on the Poem a Day website because they are considered published if I do. The prompt for April 2 was “Portrait.” Here is my offering: Portrait of an Illness Husband of fifty-six years complains…