Sunday, April 8, 2007

When the bricks begin to fall

I have posted the words i spoke at my mum's service as I talked about how God has worked in me through these past couple of years as mum suffered with cancer and I would like to share the lessons God has taught me with you all.

'The past few years have been years of teaching and learning for me as Mum battled with cancer and, praise the Lord, enjoyed and lived life despite it.
C.S. Lewis once said ‘God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience and shouts in our pain; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.’
Over the past couple of years God has definitely used the situations to shout out to me. When someone who has always been there for you and seemed so strong is taken away from you it reminds us of just how temporary and fragile life can be. But more importantly it highlights the immense need we have for Christ. When the world around is changing, and what we assumed would always be there, is not, it is then that we are reminded and comforted with the fact that there is always one who we can cling to. We began today by singing ‘ Christ the solid rock I stand’ and this is our hope which we have. When all else seems to be changing there is one who will never change or leave us.
For me God has been showing me how important it is that He alone is my foundation, the one on which I stand. As I said he has been teaching me this through the journey of the past couple of years, but He also taught me this through Mum’s example.
One of the many things I will remember Mum for is her faith. Mum knew that Christ is the only firm foundation which lasts through life’s storms. Mo matter what life threw at Mum I always saw her display quiet but solid faith. It was always a testimony and example to me and my prayer is that I will continue to grow in that faith.
I want to finish with a poem that I wrote, reflecting on this life lesson and the example of my mum:

Our lives are built with many bricks, forming a castle together
They stand so strong and permanent, like they will be there forever
One brick may be a memory, and another one a friend
And together they become our comfort, on which we depend.

But no matter how strong and permanent these bricks seem to be
For someone to always be there, is just no guarantee
Sometimes people let us down, other times our lives just part
So in this changing and crumbling world where do we lay our heart?

Our lives are enriched by others, and on them we may lean upon
But there remains one foundation on which we can forever stand strong
In this shaky and ever changing world, may our faith remain stable
To battle through, when the most precious bricks fall, God will make us able.'

3 comments:

Matt Elcome said...

Beautiful Holly. Absolutely beautiful.

Lisa Johnson said...

that was sooo amazing Holly!! i love you girl! and miss u!

Louise said...

Holly, you truly are an inspiration....I don't say that lightly. You are an amazing testament of God's love.

"He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds" - Ps 147:3

Much love,

Lou xx