Sadly, this is the last of Diane’s children sermons. It’s dated 11 February 1996–just months before she left her position at the church due to increasing ALS challenges. I’ve put off publishing it–partly because I don’t want to stop hearing her voice.
As one of her sisters, I know how difficult it was for us sisters to ask for help. You and I aren’t little gods or goddesses, sent to live perfectly serene and lovely lives. We’re God’s beloved daughters and sons, sent to live in the muck and mire that comes with mountaintops and valleys. We won’t make it by ourselves. We need each other, not just God.
We also need to know the most important truth Diane has learned. So here it is–in case you haven’t already guessed.
11 February 1996
Well….Good morning, folks! This is a special week! There’s a big day coming up Wednesday. Do you know what it is?
…Right! Valentine’s Day! After first worship somebody told me that’s an awfully sneaky way to remind your husband of Valentine’s Day! But what can I say? It works!
Tell you what. This week has another special day. At the early service Clay [Diane’s husband] nearly fell out when I said it’s our anniversary today!
He knows very well that our wedding anniversary is in June! [laughter] June 12! [more laughter] 25 years this year! [more laughter] Okay! Let’s see if he forgets…! [even more laughter]
Actually the anniversary today is special for me and my husband and our family. Ten years ago today our family joined this church. How about that? So it’s an anniversary for us today.
I’ve been thinking about important things that have happened during those ten years. And especially about the most important thing I’ve been learning the last ten years. I thought of something that reminds me in some ways of Valentine’s Day.
On Valentine’s Day we like to tell people that we love them, and make sure they understand how much we love them. Guess what? For the past ten years the most important truth I’ve been learning about is how much God loves me. That’s a super important thing to be learning.
In fact, when I think about the most important thing I want you boys and girls to learn about when you come to church, it’s that God loves you. Each one of you, and all of us together!
God loves each one of us. I’m learning it doesn’t matter what I do; there’s nothing I can do that will make God stop loving me. And there’s nothing that can happen to me that will separate me from God and God’s love for me.
When you come to church and to Sunday School week after week, you learn a lot of things. I think the most important thing that you could learn is that God loves you. So when you think about Valentine’s Day and about coming to church, I hope you’ll remember that it’s not just people who love us. God loves us, and God loves me no matter what. Let’s pray together and tell God thank you for that.
Thank you, Father, for these boys and girls who are here with me this morning. Thank you that they’re in a place today where they can be learning how much you love each one of them. I thank you for the way that you’re teaching me that truth as well, through this church and through other experiences of life. I pray that each of us will understand more and more the truth that God loves each of us, and that nothing any of us does can change that love. Even better, nothing that happens to any of us can separate us from you and your love for us.
These things we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 26 September 2015
Image from http://www.partiallyperfection.com/god-loves-me-to-pieces/
sunburst of glory
explodes in gleaming splendor
wrought from war’s horror
* * *
I’m standing in The Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle, surrounded by historic weapons of war. Read the rest of this entry »
Just over one year ago I posted a poem in honor of our 49th wedding anniversary. I called it The Other 9/11. Now we’ve marked 50 years together—and D is still not what I expected. Read the rest of this entry »
The photo above was taken in Edinburgh, directly behind the Sir Walter Scott Monument. We’re looking down into the East Princes Street Gardens. Notice the benches. They line the sidewalk from one end to the other. Each has a plaque Read the rest of this entry »
Part of a bronze frieze by Alice and Morris Meredith Williams
I wrote the words below when we visited the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle. It honors all Scots who fell in World War I. No photos were allowed inside the building. Read the rest of this entry »
Even though this isn’t the way I want things to be, I’m encouraged by these two sonnets. I can’t say I’ve had any great miraculous spurts of growth when it comes to making my way home.
It’s all been a bit of a slog in the dark. Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s the yummy lentil soup I made yesterday. It smells and tastes like the lentil soups I had on our trip. I doubled the recipe–and changed spice amounts as noted below. Add water or broth as needed to keep it from going mushy and stiff. I used a combination of broth and water. Haven’t frozen any yet, but intend to. I’m also thinking about multiple variations on the theme. Read the rest of this entry »
Scottish Traditional Vegetarian Breakfast, Priestville Guest House
I can’t get The Reclamation Project out of my mind. In fact, just reviewing it this morning reminded me of what happened in my gut while D and I were in Scotland.
I have challenges when it comes to food Read the rest of this entry »
The Writers’ Museum, Edinburgh
Well…I’d hoped to get a new post together for today. But alas, my body and mind (full of cotton) just couldn’t get it together. Jet lag has done me in–as usual. Not to worry. Read the rest of this entry »
Telling the Truth 