[OESY]

Bellissimo!

One of my greatest regrets in life has been not taking my wife back to Pompeii, Amalfi, Sorrento and Capri, places she had been before but experiences I longed to share with her—while she was still healthy or at least ambulatory. Now she is no longer capable of even enjoying your wonderful photographs. Susan was talented and loved to travel, to cook and to read, having participated in several book and gourmet groups. She relished music, opera, film and history, won awards for her pen & inks and for her acrylics, and wrote her college thesis on her present affliction, 30 years before it was identified by name. Susan came as close to self-actualization as anyone I know, a true renaissance woman with a Ph.D and two masters, a successful physical therapy practice (she was described by one doctor as an “icon” of physical therapy in New York), and nine years as president of the board of trustees of a local hospital. Now she is hospitalized and in a semi-coma, having suffered her 8th seizure on Thursday. Very sad. I try to be optimistic to compensate, and to cherish memories and photographs of our better times together.

.

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

June 7, 2008

Serving Together

ODB RADIO: Listen Now |  Download
READ: Galatians 5:13-16

Through love serve one another. —Galatians 5:13

When Cristine Bouwkamp and Kyle Kramer got married in the spring of 2007, they did something most of us wouldn’t think of doing. Instead of hosting a “sit-down dinner,” they held a simple reception at the church and invited their guests to help distribute food to people in need.

They bought a truckload of food and had it delivered to the church parking lot. Then they and their wedding guests served the people of the neighborhood. Cristine and Kyle said the first thing they wished to do as a married couple was to serve others. Because God had changed their lives so radically, they wanted to “bless God for blessing us with each other.”

The Kramers chose a great start for their new marriage—blessing God by serving others. The apostle Paul encouraged the Christians of Galatia: “Through love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13). Some of them believed that the ceremonial practices of the Old Testament were still binding on the church. So Paul wrote that salvation is by grace through faith. It is by faith we live out our new life in Christ. He reminded them that the law was fulfilled in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (v.14).

As followers of Jesus, we’re here to serve Him out of love—to “bless God for blessing us.”

O that my life may useful be
As I serve Jesus faithfully;
And may His love be seen in me—
This is my earnest prayer. —Hess

God blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others.

Bible in One Year: Romans 5–8; Proverbs 23:29-35

[yorkie]

What a beautiful, strong, talented, brilliant woman you have shared your life with, OESY! I am so very sorry to read about her illness.

[JustAmy]

You and Susan are still in my prayers.

Hugs to both of you.




Pinging MamaBear because I know she is also saying prayers for both of you.

[Mama_Bear]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about this amazing woman that you've shared your life with. It is hearbreaking that she is in the condition she is and I can only imagine how very hard this has been for you.

God bless you with strength and courage, OESY. You have friends here who care very much. I hope that in some way, on some level, that helps a bit.

[MEG33]

How very sad....What a beautiful tribute to your wonderful, talented wife..I will hold her and you in my prayers, OESY.

[Cardhu]

You have FR-Mail OESY

[La Enchiladita]

[jaycee]

May God Bless you and the strong, lovely lady you have spent your life with. We pray that you and your wife have as much peace as possible.

We always think our lives ‘were hard’ or ‘are hard’ until we share other’s experiences.

My prayers will be with you both.

[Kitty Mittens]

OESY, Words Fail me after Reading your Post about your Wonderful Wife; I'm Sorry she is So Ill and will Lift you Both Up in Prayer. God Shower you with Strength from Heaven, my FRiend.

[DollyCali]

Oesy, I am SOOOO very sorry to read about Susan’s current state . It is so hard to see those you love fall victim to the frailties of the body & of aging.

Her remarkable life and career are of course the “record” of achievements but it sounds like she was so very rich in who she was beyond that.

Praying for you all now in these difficult times FRiend!

Mega Hugs & LOVE! dolly