Heart-breaking

I posted last week about one of my fears as a parent. The drowning issue and the importance of watching your children while around water. Little did I know at the time that one of our church family would suffer this horrible kind of death. No, it wasn't a child. It was a mom. A young mom who leaves behind twin 5 y.o. boys. This family was in our community investing in an education for her husband. They are one of many international families who come here for an education and a chance at a better life whether they choose to stay in the U.S. or whether they choose to go back home.

This family had chosen to go back home to Korea. And they were scheduled to leave today. But, it wasn't meant to be. While enjoying the outdoors on Saturday, the mom drowned. The boys were at church yesterday as their father struggled to make plans and figure out how life would go on. My heart aches for them so. To have come this far and lived so far from your home and with the promise of home so close. What a tragedy. We never know when life will be taken from us. We have to make the most of every single day.

It's interesting that this post is today. 5 years ago today, I received a phone call that would forever change my life as well. My brother called early in the morning to let me know my dad had had a heart attack and was in bad shape. As we gathered N and packed for Dallas, I kept telling Lance over and over, "I'm too young to lose my dad, I can't do this." It was a hard day - the drs. couldn't wait his surgery on me - he had a triple bypass and all I could think was, if he doesn't make it, I never got a chance to say goodbye. Thankfully, he did make it and he continued to grow stronger. But, I will never again take the health of my parents or loved ones for granted again. It changed me.

A dear friend of mine, Susan, called me Saturday night and let me know about her dad. He has pancreatic cancer. This is one of the deadliest and quickest forms of cancer. He will be gone soon and Susan knows it, but her heart is breaking. She is the primary caretaker and will have most of the burden on her for his care. My heart aches for her. I listened as she cried on the phone Saturday night. I didn't know what to say or what to do. I could only listen.

Please pray for Esther's family in these days ahead. I can't imagine all that is going thru their hearts and minds. Pray for Susan and her family.
Love those around you and tell them.