“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
This set of verses speak for themselves.
We are called to rejoice, choose joy, pray, be thankful, no matter what life throws at us.
I grew up with a mother that insisted on graciousness constantly. If someone smiled in your direction, you show your gratitude. For Loretta and i saying “thank you” is equivalent to breathing.
And yet,
in this season,
there are so many people I have not taken the time and truly have not had the energy to thank.
i want to pause, right here and right now, to give a shout to those people, listing them one by one.
Each and every one of you surrounded me in prayer, love, compassion, encouragement, laughs, and hugs.
You each helped give me a deeper understanding of the Church.
You are each a beautiful picture of the Bride.
i am so honored to know and be loved by you.
Grandma Bobbie: Thank you for your willingness to drop everything and just be by our side. For your strength when we are weak. Gram, you remind me of our Father.
Dad: Thank you for standing with us at Hospice. For offering your careful expertise, for demanding excellent care for momma in her last hours.
Angela: Thank you for checking up, for providing love and comfort. For encouraging clear communication.
Andrea: Thank you for asking good, clarifying questions, my mind is a war zone and you granted it peace. Thank you for being a safe and cozy place.
Jake: Thank you for being consistent in asking and in praying. For sending my mom, one of your biggest fans and supporters, your music so she could listen before she passed.
John Baughman and FC Schultz: Thank you for being a couple bold prayer warriors.
Mallory: Thank you for calling consistently and checking in on my heart. Your laughter made me lighter.
Bethany and Landon Justice: Thank you for offering wise counsel, for laughing at my jokes, for helping me feel more holy, and yet, more human at the end of every conversation. For driving 12 hours, getting a hotel room, and coming to my momma’s funeral.
Kenzi: Thank you for being a best friend and a sister, someone I can and consistently run to, everyday, without a second thought.
Triss: Thank you for being there to help me have conversations, for loving me when I am over the top.
Nib: Thank you for hugging me (for the first time ever…)
Amy Price: Thank you our smile, your constant, unrelenting joy. Thank you for pushing me closer to the heart of Jesus.
Jenna: Thank you for texting me even when I wouldn’t respond for days. God smiles at your persistence.
Daniel Dominguez: Very few people understand what it feels like to lose a parent. You are one of them. Thank you for relentless encouragement and love. Thank you for walking with me.
Tiffany Mussman: Thank you for being vulnerable with your story.
Jones Family: Thank you for being a family when I desperately needed one. I love you all so much. And you are all so dear to my heart.
Annette Thornblade: Thank you for consistently looking at me and asking how I am.
Ozark Christian College: A consistent group of prayer warriors. Writing notes, text, emails of encouraging words. Thank you to my favorite place in the whole world. Sacred ground.
Scott and Candy: Thank you for providing a consistent place to be, work, and pour out.
The Burchett’s: You were a safe place to run. A house and excellent home and a family to laugh with. Thank you.
Renee: My confidante and my wisdom. I am so honored to know you and be loved by you. I miss you. Thank you.
The Borelli’s: Thank you making me good food to feed my hungry belly and support to feed my hungry soul.
Mom’s gals: you know who you are. Thank you for providing our family with laughs, stories of the OR, for reminding us about the legacy our momma left.
Emmy: Thank you for taking excellent care of our momma the last two months of her life.
Lacey: Thank you for being a pair of willing hands for the full seven months.
Liz Gann: Thank you for your bold honesty and your wise encouragement. You truly listen and lean in to the Holy Spirit.
Beau: Beau, you have been the big brother I have always wanted. Thank you for your patience during these past few months.
BJ: You were the first person to write me a note of encouragement when the situation with momma came to pass. A note I still read when I need a little extra boost to keep using my story for the Kingdom.
Dan: Thank you for standing next to Momma until her last breath.
Doug: Thank you for weeping with Momma.
Ifeoma: You consistently held me up in prayer and encouragement. You helped me grieve, by allowing me to be angry. Angry at my circumstances, at cancer, even at death. Thank you for reminding me, that even in that anger, the cross stands strong.
Annie: Thank you for your willingness to drop anything and everything you were doing to do anything to help us. Thank you for making us laugh even when we felt like sobbing. Thank you for taking care of Junie B, momma’s best friend and companion.
Jason: Thank you for choosing me even when it’s next to impossible. For reminding me that I am worth it, for teaching me about God, for helping me to love those that I even find hard to love. You are the man I’ve been waiting for and I love you.
And finally, my second most important thank you… to my baby sister, my first true love, my best friend… Lo.
Loretta: Thank you for pushing me to grieve, you’re the only one who can make this mule move.
Most importantly...
Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit: Thank you for granting me strength when I could no longer stand. For pursuing me when I was lost and alone. For allowing me to take care of your precious Diane for seven months. For speaking when I had no words. Thank you for letting me rest in your arms.
I do not understand this world and I certainly do not understand Your ways, but i will never stop shouting Your praises.
with gratitude,
Molly