Sunday, January 20, 2008

Gifts Left Behind

Annette left many files on her computer for us to go through after she died. She named the file Documents If I Die. Always practical, she left intructions for the funeral and some other housekeeping things. She also left many of her thoughts behind for us to share. Annette also made a video last May and July for us. It truly is such a gift to have these words from her. I would like to share some of these thoughts.

Annette did not want anyone, especially her boys, to blame God for her death. She wanted no one to ask, "What kind of God would take away a 41 year old wife, mother, daughter and sister?" She continues..."I hope that, even through this, we can praise God for his unfailing love and faithfulness. I do not believe that God sent this cancer to me. Disease, illness, and death are a consequence of the fall...it is because we are not in perfect harmony anymore with God. Some people ask, "Why did God allow this (to happen) to me?" I find that a very selfish question. There are so many things that are tough in the world... genocide, the Holocaust, poverty in the 3rd world.... I do believe God CAN take away the bad things, but to do so would be the end of the world. He put the laws of nature in place and put us, human beings, in charge of the world. It's up to us to take care of it. "

"God is a God of LOVE. Pure love. What He wants more than anything is to be in true commune with us. But because of our break with Him, we are unable to be totally in community with Him at this time. But we can try. Meditation, praying, reading the Bible and getting to know the God of love are all ways."

"I look forward to being with God when I die. I'm just incredibly sad that I have to leave this world and my loved ones".

Annette never blamed God and didn't think she was "given" cancer. Her greatest desire was that, "even through this, we can praise God for his unfailing love and faithfulness".

9 comments:

Kei said...

Thank you Lisa for sharing some of Annette's writing. I know it had to be heartbreaking for you to relay her words to us.

(((Hugs)))

Jan Steck Huffman said...

One amazing person. I miss her.

Thank you Lisa.

All 4 My Gals said...

She is the perfect example of praising him in the storm. He is so proud of her, I know that, and what more can our lives mean?
This is from one of my favorite songs by Casting Crowns, "Praise you in this storm"...and is exactly how Annette lived her life....to the fullest!

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Betsy said...

Thank you so much for these words, Lisa - Annette was such a sweet soul - and a great example for all of us.

Mendelt said...

Thank you for the post Lisa.

Absolute strength and beauty.

Peace to Tom and all the family

Beth said...

I just came across this blog! You are an awesome sister to carry on your sister's legacy and deliver her powerful message in her absence. I am sobbing as I read through these posts. I am so sorry for your loss.
God Bless, Beth

Anonymous said...

Lisa,
We pray for your family, Tom and boys daily. I miss Annette, therefore cannot imagine your heartache. I read in a book by Randy Alcorn that when someone dies and goes to Heaven, it's like they are doing mission work in a third world country and can not call us. We know they are with people we love and we know we will see them again but we just miss them. I have thought about Heaven a great deal more in the last month. I'm looking forward to seeing Annette again.
Thanks for keeping her memory alive for me.
Love and Hugs,
Coby

Anonymous said...

Lisa - thank you so much for sharing this with us! Annette's unfaltering faith in God helps me to try and be better and form a better relationship with God. I miss her as well and think of you and Tom in the boys daily! I have a picture of her, me, Jan and Nicole drinking wine up on my dresser and will always cherish the time I did get to spend with her. Annette just always thought of others and was such a special special lady!!! She is so proud of you continuing this I am sure....

Hugs!

Lisa (Lily's mom)

Anonymous said...

This post is thought-provoking. I honor Annette's memory but I have a different way of looking at disease and death.
I don't believe that they are the result of the fall for the same reason that I don't believe that the death and sickness of plants and animals is the result of the fall. We are living things. We are born, we grow and we wither and die. We are the same as the wheat and the flocks of birds.
To live forever on this earth would be a curse, not a blessing. Disease is a temporary state, as is pain.
The Creator I worship doesn't punish us to teach us a lesson. It is beyond our ability to understand why good people die young or why evil people seem to flourish. At some point, we'll know "why" and we'll say, "Oh! That explains it. of course."
-Gaia