I’ve been away for a while.
As Jennifer noted, April has been a difficult month around here two years running. April is the month when last year I lost my best friend and my last remaining grandparent. April is the month this year when I lost by “best friend” Carla, and - this part I hadn’t mentioned here yet - when we learned that my father had a very large and likely-cancerous growth on a kidney.
I’ve just returned from his house, where I’d been with his two sisters, a brother-in-law and my younger brother and sister. He had his kidney removed quite successfully yesterday, and will be home again tomorrow. (He could have gone home today - about 26 hours after the surgery finished - if he’d chosen to. They’re near the point where a complication-free kidney removal will be an outpatient procedure. Amazing.)
I’ve learned a lot about responsibility in April - this year and last year. I tried to write about it, but I can’t get it right. It sounds preachy and self-congratulatory, which is completely not the point. So, suffice it to say that my father is OK, likely to make a full recovery and require no further treatment.
And some of the people in my life that I respect the most have paid me the great honor of confidence and trust in me. The same honor as last April, but from different people this time. I am deeply grateful.
Glad the tumour is gone. I pray that everything is well for y’all.
Comment by Rachel — April 27, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
Wouldn’t it be great if we could look back on things like you describe and say, “whew, the worst is now behind me”? We both know that’s not the case, but we also know that those difficult times that are behind us are preparing us for the ones to come…getting us ready for God’s ever-increasing grace and strength, so that not only will we be able to cope better in the future, but others will be encouraged and edified by the way we react to those circumstances. We are works in progress; we’re being forged by fire, and while it’s hard on the metal, the end result is shining and glorious.
Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Eric — April 29, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
What Eric said. ;-) Glad your Dad is going to be okay.
Comment by gwynne — April 30, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
Glad your Dad came through that successfully. Sometimes things get wicked tough. I hope you all get a breather now. You’re due.
Comment by Don — May 4, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
Your comments are all very encouraging. Thank you very much.
Comment by Brian's Wife — May 4, 2007 @ 8:50 pm