I Come to the Garden...

Meadow

Thank you so much for this, it is my mother's favorite and I can hear her beautiful voice as I read the words

Valsa123

my mothers fav hymn...so appropriate!

Meece

3Jays, what joy you must be feeling.  DH's Ex was unaware it was my idea but I suggested the reading of Luke 15:3-7, no one other than DH and I could come up with a scripture. It seems so appropriate that You are now experiencing the joy of recovering your "lost sheep", 3 Jays.  We can only imagine how Our Father feels when he brings one of us back to the fold. 

Meece

A gift arrived for DH yesterday.  It was a finely tuned wind chime whose notes are from the first stanza of Amazing Grace.  What a beautiful and thoughtful gift.  To hear it chime you can pick out different notes, even though they are not in order, the tune comes to mind.

Eph3_12

Nice!

Meece

We returned to my parent's church yesterday.  They are so friendly and the pastor is really good.  

This week we recieved two cards from the Children's ministries workers from the church we belong to.  Still no actual contact from the pastoral staff.  Are we expecting too much?

barbe1958

No, Meece, you aren't expecting too much. Does everyone know what happened though, in all fairness..... I think the death of one's child is perhaps the hardest burden a parent must bear. I imagine people don't know what to say, but surely the pastor would! Compassion, hugs, anything, just to show acknowledgement is better than nothing.

Meece

Well, our Nursery ministry leader knows because we called her the day it happened.  She told everyone at the weekly ministries meeting, we know this because someone who came to the funeral was there and heard it.  The pastors were also at that meeting and no word from any of them yet (now 16 days out).  The cards we received were signed by five of the children's ministry staff, again, no pastor.  We have reached out during this ordeal and during Matt's health crisis, and have received no ministry.  Perhaps this is our sign.  Or, do we hang in there because perhaps they themselves are going through something?

3jaysmom

Meece, I think a change is in order. You have served so long, so well, and when in need of spiritual counsel; got no response. Find a church that appreciates and loves its' members!

 Just sayin, cause I've been thru it.. 3jays

macatacmv

meece, I am going thru a hurt situation in my church, too. I was the treasurer for years, taught in the children's classes and helped keep the church going during the pastor search after our beloved pastor left after 18 years. We got a wonderful young couple with young children as our new pastor family. But it is their first senior pastor position. I think they have a lot to learn. When I was dx. I was not allowed to step down from the board until the annual meeting (two months later) Then when I was so sick for almost two years, a friend of mine (not a church member) had to call them to say I really needed some help. Then about 4 months ago I got a letter from the board saying I've been put on the inactive member list since I have not attended church regularly. The thing that bothers me most is the no communication. All that to say that I think it is a lesson they still need to learn, about compassion. I have no real desire to attend the church, but I miss the people so will go back at some point. I don't have too much choice in churches. But I am done being a member. It has taught me a lot about my role in reaching out to people, church or no church.

So no, I don't think you need to "hang in there". Either they lead by example or they delegate someone who is better at compassionate ministry to reach out to hurting members of the church. You need to be able to rest and soak in the peace and grace of our Lord and Savior, not feel like you might need to take care of your ministry team.  (just my opinion)

barbe1958

mac, I can't believe a church can "fire" you as a member!! They should be reaching out to find out what is wrong that you can't attend the services regularly, not fire you!

And Meece, your church has failed you miserably. To me, the only choice is whether to bother telling them why you are leaving, or just to move on quietly. We aren't here to teach our churches their mission, but for them to teach us theirs.

Meece

Mac, I have been fired as a member as well.  Many years ago, my ex would not go to the church I grew up in, and that he had become a member of before we married.  I let him choose a different church and we were attending there regularly.  About two years later, my home church called to see if everything was okay.  I asked if they had noticed we hadn't been attending for over two years.  She said no, then a few months I got "the letter".

I agree, Barbe.  I am one to let people know, so I may write a letter if we leave.

Eph3_12

Why stay?  Leave!!!

Meece

I think that will be our decision, but DH needs to say what he thinks.  We returned to my parents church this week, and DH commented that the pastor is someone he thought could be a friend.  I think I know which way he is leaning.

QCA

Meece, in the end you and DH have to do what you think is best for you.  It doesn't seem as if you've gotten the support you needed during your step-son's death, and in my mind, supporting members during such times is one of the most important jobs a minister has.  

Kathy

Eph3_12

Amen Kathy.  

Meece, I wasn't trying to be rude & obnoxious with my "Why Stay? Leave!" comment, so I hope you didn't take it that way, but I must admit when I came on here just now, it looked rude & obnoxious to me!!  Eeeeekk.  Sorry.  I was just trying to say, very compactly, exactly what Kathy just said.  Only I didn't say it so eloquently! 

Meece

Joni, I didn't take it that way at all.  I am just trying to be a good Christian wife and let my husband be the head of the household.  He's not a dictator, but I don't want to step on his feet either.

barbe1958

Joni, I had to laugh at your "leave!" post as I just QUIT my job!!! I've only been there two weeks and the morale and lack of leadership on the floor was just pitiful!! As well, only one salesperson is even going to get commission rather than minimum wage!!! I had enough sense to leave, so seeing your post was actually heartening to me...even though it wasn't for me.

Meece, I don't think "good Christian wife" just follows her husband, but walks beside him. I know that's what you were trying to say...

Meece

I had to be the one who led her family's "religious" persuits for 24 years, and it feels good to have someone walking beside me now.

I have a request:

DH's former boss (former BIL/good friend, and one of my current bosses) has a thirty one yr old daughter who has had health issues for well over a year since going through a divorce from an abusive husband.  She has had lot's of stomach issues, gallbladder, kidney et. al.  Last spring and summer she was on IV feeding because she weighed 70 lbs.  She is seeing specialists but the past couple of months she has gone downhill again.  She has been living with her parents so they can help her with her 9  and 2 yr old children.  Yesterday we got notice that they took her to the specialist to get the feeding tube put back in as she's back down to 70, but now she has been put in ICU because they think she's had a stroke.

Please pray for Bree and her parents.  They are beleivers and such good people and would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it.  

barbe1958

Dear God, Bree has bourne her burden with grace and kept the safety of her children in mind by leaving an abusive relationship. Please honour her choices by lifting her up and tending to her body and soul. We ask of this in Jesus' name. Amen.

chabba

Amen

3jaysmom

Adding Bree to my prayers, as all Meeces' Crew.. Love and peace for you all.. 3jays

Valsa123

yes let her be in peace.

Eph3_12

Prayers for Bree.

Barbe, glad I could be of assistance, inadvertently!  I had lunch with a friend I hadn't seen in years on March 3rd. During the course of catching up the one thing she kept bringing up was how miserable she has been in her 18 yrs on the job at the plant where she works.  As this is the year my school chums & I are all turning 60, I just told her that she needed to measure her peace of mind & sanity with the continuation of the job.  She QUIT on March 8!  She called me last week, her blood pressure has dropped into normal for the 1st time in years.  She is sleeping through the night & she is looking for something part-time in the culinary field since she has made designer cakes on the side for years.  And she made me a lemon meranigue pie!

QCA

Prayers for Bree, too.

Cheers for your friend, Joni!  Some things just aren't worth the stress, and as with her and Barbe, this is one of them.

Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday.  Weather forecast here calls for warmer weather next week so I'm happy!

Kathy

barbe1958

FINALLY slept in this morning! One thing I like about retail is that it starts later in the morning, but this place had us come in an hour early to do paperwork!! Sorry, I am very organized and do my paperwork as it happens. I have no desire to stand on cement for an hour cleaning up someone elses crap! I'm going to have to give up retail all around I think. I had a desk job in sales at the last place I worked and didn't have to stand around waiting for clients - I had appointments! So I'm looking at administration now...and have put out a number of resumes, but of course I look more like a sales person on paper. 

I am now jobless and need some light prayers sent my way ladies. We are totally relying on my DH's government pension and unemployment to cover our monthly expenses! Oh, how low we have fallen! But, the wonderful thing is that I am still happy me! We know that money doesn't define us and we are getting by on so much less. I would accept a minimum wage job if it made me happy. I just can't and won't take bullshit in a job any more. I've lost that tolerance level years ago.....

Valsa123

go for it girl!

Meece

Barbe, I pray that you will find the job that fits you.  I know how difficult that can be.

The long term sub job I had ended March 1st as the lady who had it was "out".  She came back and worked eight days  and during our loss, she went out again.  I subbed four more days for her and then last Monday she came back.  I subbed at two more places last week and committed to sub as the Office Supervisor on Friday at the same school and found out that the person had been absent Thursday and Friday.  I would love that job so much as it is a great blend of my skills and student/people interaction.  Bree's dad warned me not to get my heart set on one job, but I really feel I'm good at this one.  I don't wish ill on anyone but would be happy if that job came open. (And I got it.)

barbe1958

Good luck, Meece!

Meece

Thanks.  Went to work on one side of town and got called back to "my" school yesterday.  The OS called my office just before time to go home and asked to reserve me for the rest of the week.  Minutes later I got a call from a different school asking for me for the rest of the week.  Timing is everything.

Bree's dad emailed last night.  They now know what is wrong with her, she is malnutritioned, has a fungal infection in her lungs and some sort of infection in her stomach.  Yesterday was the first day she had any time of being lucid.  They feel good that they now know what is causing the issues and can treat her for them.  She is still in ICU in critical condition and the doctors (as of last night) said the next 24-36 hours will tell.  Thank you for your prayers.