{"id":3332,"date":"2021-12-10T19:11:36","date_gmt":"2021-12-11T00:11:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=3332"},"modified":"2025-05-22T11:28:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T15:28:25","slug":"stay-present-my-friends-2-2-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=3332","title":{"rendered":"(In the Moments) Surprised by Joy: A Journey Through Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

And\u00a0so\u00a0the angel said to them, \u201cDo not be afraid; for <\/span><\/i><\/span>behold<\/span><\/i><\/strong>, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;<\/span><\/i><\/span> f<\/span><\/span><\/em>or today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is\u00a0Christ\u00a0the Lord.<\/span><\/i><\/span> <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/sup>And\u00a0this\u00a0will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a\u00a0manger\u201d (Luke 2:10-11<\/strong> NASB).\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Behold<\/span><\/i><\/strong> what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him (I John 3:1<\/strong> NKJV).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Behold<\/strong> – perceive with the eyes or any of the senses, notice, discern, discover, pay attention, observe, inspect, examine, understand.<\/p>\n

Jerry<\/h3>\n

He used to be an elder at our church, but I haven’t seen Jerry since he completed his chemo treatments for his lymphoma.\u00a0 I look forward to seeing him and celebrating the fact that he’s now cancer free.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

I arrive at Loveland’s, a popular coffee shop <\/span>in Irmo, South Carolina. As a step through the doors, <\/span>I’m\u00a0 surprised to see a cluster of comfortable chairs unoccupied. Not seeing Jerry, I claim the spot.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Napkin<\/h4>\n

As I wait, my thoughts drift back to the breakfast meeting I’d just completed with my son and our friend Seth. I’d opened my eyes during our closing prayer and was surprised by a napkin. <\/span>Stamped into this simple paper product were flowers with clearly defined petals, standing stalks of wheat and symmetrical lines and shapes of intricate detail.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So much went into such an insignificant item, but you had to take the time to notice it. I’m glad I did. It reminds me of all the colorful details God puts into the wings of butterflies and the flowers of the field for us to enjoy. If we will.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Knees to Knees<\/h4>\n

Still deep in thought, I’m a bit startled when Jerry suddenly appears. He’d been seated at another part of the shop and we’d missed each other. He sits in the chair to my right and turns towards me. Knees to knees he calls it. <\/span><\/p>\n

I feel his pastoral heart as he asks me about how I’m handling the passing of my little sister, Marlee, a couple of weeks ago. I tell him it’s been hard, but that I think I’m learning how to grieve.<\/span><\/p>\n

As I travel these waters of loss, I seem to be able to feel more keenly. Even in this true sadness, there’s also been a deeper appreciation of\u00a0 all of life’s emotions. Through it all, I’m discovering God is enough. Strange how pain is leading me to a more tangible awareness of His sufficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jerry talks about his journey with cancer, the chemotherapy and the delight of being declared cancer free.\u00a0 He and his bride, Ginny, have had their separate battles with cancer. Hers has been breast cancer. Through it all, they’ve fought together side by side, a beautiful thing. They are closer, like foxhole buddies.<\/p>\n

His world shrunk as he was forced to slow down. He’s seen tremendous benefit in stillness and quiet. He is being restored.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jerry’s Focus for The Year<\/h3>\n

As our time winds down, Jerry tells me about two focal points he brought into the beginning of this year. Two phrases which have defined his journey; beginning before there was even a thought of cancer:<\/p>\n