The Journal

Tue 22 Nov 2011 Filed in: My Life | Grief Notes
It was in a little box that said “The Family Treasure Books.” Suzanne came across it tucked away among Joan’s treasures. I had forgotten that the small leather-bound book existed, and finding it was like discovering buried treasure. Special Days to Remember, it said, and it was filled cover to cover, well over a hundred pages, with Joan’s journal of our 1989 trip to Asia.

For us the trip had been one of both discovery and ministry. We had visited six countries, interacted with scores of missionaries and national believers in three of them, and I had taught for a couple of weeks in Cebu. And Joan recorded the trip in detail. I stayed up beyond midnight reading it halfway through, remembering events I had forgotten, and seeing again people and places that were burned into our hearts.

I picked it up again this morning and finished reading it, savoring every page of the journal and every day of the trip. Joan missed nothing of importance. In fact if we shared a meal with you on that trip, Joan probably recorded what we ate (and whether we needed Pepto Bismol later). I found myself joyfully thanking God for people I haven’t seen for years - and for a few who, like Joan, are now in the presence of the Lord.

Three months ago I attended a “Creating a Legacy” conference and came away convinced of the importance of telling one’s story. In the last couple of days I have experienced (again) the value of that first hand. It’s been almost four years since she passed away, and Joan is still blessing me.
Laugh
blog comments powered by Disqus