Thursday, January 7, 2010

Faith and Courage



I mentioned before that I was adopted by an older couple when I was a baby.  Therefore, a lot of my cousins are much older than I am.  My cousin's husband died on New Year's day, he was 77.  However, he had a stroke 27 years ago and lost the use of half of his body.  He was confined to a wheelchair and his speech wasn't clear anymore, but she always knew what he was trying to say.

For all these years my cousin had taken care of her husband.  I never remember hearing her complain at all.  She took him to church every Sunday.  At the funeral on Tuesday, her preacher told a funny story.  He said my cousin was on her way to her church in the pouring rain, but decided it might be too dangerous to continue.  She pulled in at the first church she came to, and worshiped there.  It was his church that she stopped at, and she has been going there ever since.

She has been a very strong woman throughout the past 27 years.  She never once stopped going to church, she never stopped taking her husband everywhere he wanted to go.  They still came down to SC to visit family as much as possible.  She took him to tent revivals that lasted weeks and would be there faithfully.  Her husband died last Friday and she was still in church come Sunday morning.

As I sit there in the funeral and thought about how faithful she had been to her husband and how she never lost faith in God, I wondered, could I do that?  I don't think I am that strong.  It doesn't take much for me to not go to church on Sunday morning now, let it pour down rain, and I might not go.  If I had to get a wheelchair out and put my husband in it, then load the chair up again, would I do it?  Or would I just use it as an excuse and stay home? 

I am in awe of everything my cousin did for 27 years.  I was only 12 when it happened, so I guess I never gave it much thought until the other day.  She has shown so much courage and faith and I only hope that I could do half of what she has done.  She is really an inspiration! 

16 comments:

QuiltedSimple said...

wow. i'm not sure i could do it. i would hope that if push came to shove i could and would but....she must be an incredible lady.
kris

Anonymous said...

She sounds like a very wonderful person who took her wedding vows very seriously and realized that even though things did not turn out the way she had hoped, that God was with her each step of the way. I know she misses him but it is comforting to know he is whole again! God bless her in this new phase of her life.

Anonymous said...

She sounds like a very wonderful person who took her wedding vows very seriously and realized that even though things did not turn out the way she had hoped, that God was with her each step of the way. I know she misses him but it is comforting to know he is whole again! God bless her in this new phase of her life.

nannykim said...

This is truly a blessed and inspirational story; thanks for sharing it.

Shannon said...

Nancy, thanks for sharing this story with us. Maybe she loved going because her spirits were lifted up by the congregation, and her walk with the Lord felt stronger. I really don't know how people handle adversity without Jesus. This is truly making ones life an outward testimony. True, it would have been so easy to sit at home, but she didn't. I am so touched by her love for her husband and the Lord.

Mandie said...

She sounds like an incredible lady!! My dad was adopted too. He just left from a visit to us. Love the holidays!!

Technonana said...

I would call her a true Proverbs 31 woman... inspiring to all and such a wonderful blessing to her husband!!

Cheryl said...

A good woman living the word of God and God gave her strength. Not many women would stand by her man for that many years.

My Dad was bed ridden for 2 years due to diabetes, lost use of limbs. Mom carried for him daily and after his death she confessed how hard it was. But she says you take one day at a time and talk with the Lord many times during the day. I have no ideal I could ever live up to that. My Mom is my hero and my buddy!

Eggs In My Pocket said...

Such a heart touching story. You know, I have found through the years, that we always don't know what we would do, or bet we would not do something, until we wind up in that position, and then something within us, strong and brave, gets us through it all. Enjoyed this story so much! blessings,Kathleen

Twisted Fencepost said...

Could it be that through her faith, God gave her the strength?
We should all be so lucky to have a partner such as her.

KathyB. said...

What a tribute to her and her faith, I hope you share this with her...and praise God you have relatives who do love Him.

Tracy Golightly-Garcia said...

Nancy

This post has touched me so much--thank you for sharing.

Your cousin is a wonderful person-I can only hope if my husband got sick-I would be just as strong.I always remember--with God all things are possible.

Best
Tracy :)

Terry said...

Howdy Nancy
What an amazing faith .
Thank you for sharing this inspiration with us today.
This truly brought tears to my eyes.
What an incredible testament to be lived out in front of you and countless others now that you have shared :)
Thank you for always lifting us up here in blog land.
You'll never know how much I enjoy visiting your blog .
Blessings of love,joy,peace,and warmth are sent your way today .
Big Hugs
Happy Trails

Farmhouse Blessings said...

What a testimony!

Michelle said...

I'm sorry for the loss of your cousin's husband ... such love and devotion she showed him.

I think a lot of us don't know what kind of strength we would have until we are in that situation.

Narelle said...

Wow what a faithful servant to the Lord. I am almost ashamed of myself when I read this post. I am sorry for her loss too, if he was such a big part of her life she must be missing him?
Thanks Nancy
xox