A Good Friday in ICU

I spent Good Friday with my grandma in intensive care.  My grandma has had a tough life.  I might share a bit of her story in the services tomorrow.  Most recently her struggle has been with sickness.  Over the past week she's been in the hospital twice.  But she still shines:)

The weakness of her body seems to highlight the strength of her spirit.

After reading Matthew's story of the crucifixion and spending some moments in prayer I realized something.  Most grandmas in the same position would have labeled yesterday Bad Friday.  Hospital beds, IV tubes and machines that don't stop beeping aren't good things.  Isn't it just like Jesus to make Good Fridays out of bad days:)

Easter weekend covers the whole spectrum of life's experiences.  It closes with a bang.  Resurrection.  New bodies.  My grandma's is coming. 

But Easter weekend starts in the dark.  Broken bodies come first.  Before lifting us up the passion of Jesus touches us in life's lower places.

It occurred to me yesterday that without the dark, the light at the end of the tunnel would be lost.  Hope would lack perspective.  A life without suffering would also be a life without rejoicing.

Tomorrow Church of the King will join Jesus' global group of disciples to celebrate resurrection.  Some of us might even dance:)  Then I'll drive back to Botsford to have Easter lunch in ICU.  And in some strange way my grandma and I will find context for the celebration. 

Comments

[Jerome]

Powerful! I am praying for your grandma!!!

[Brad]

Thanks Jerome. Hope you have a great weekend:)

[Mary Beth Bradshaw]

Tell your grandma we are praying for her and that my Grandma, Curl, asked about her yesterday and is praying and thinking of her as well.

[Katie]

She has a great heart. Thanks for sharing more of her story this morning.