You’ve heard it said, or likely even said it yourself at some point in your life.

“That gift was a such a Godsend.”

“What a Godsend that event was, so unexpected, but so appreciated.”

A Literal, Physical, Personal Godsend 

Shirley and I have said something very similar scores and scores of times over the past nineteen months. We’ve said it, sincerely, about our daughter, Marie.

“Marie, you are a literal, physical, personal Godsend for us!”

Nineteen months ago, on June 4, 2021, Shirley suffered her hemorrhagic stroke. That same night, our adult daughter, Marie, moved back in with us. Marie sacrificed her personal time, her job, her career, her income, her personal freedom, her personal space, and so much more, to move back in and provide care for her Mom. Marie has been,

“Jesus with skin on.”

Marie has been for both Shirley and me our own personal soul caregiver, encourager, biblical counselor, hope-giver, and so much more. Marie has wept with us. Marie has rejoiced with us. Marie has laughed with us. Marie has been our dear adult friend as our dear adult daughter.

Marie has been Shirley’s at-home physical therapist, her at-home occupational therapist.

Living and Loving Like the Father 

Recently, I reread Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son. Nouwen admits that he sees himself as the younger son—the prodigal. He also sees himself as the older son—the self-righteous one. But then Nouwen notes that as he got older, he saw God the Father calling him to live like the forgiving, giving father in the parable.

As I reflect on Marie’s nineteen months of loving, sacrificial ministry to us, it strikes me that Marie has lived like the giving, sacrificing, loving, serving adult in the parable of the prodigal son. Shirley and I have seen in and experienced from Marie such maturity, such Christlikeness, such sacrificial love, such joy, such encouragement, such giving.

Moving Day 

Today, after nineteen months, is moving day for Marie. Marie is moving back to a town about 45 minutes from us—where her work is, where her church is, where her friends are. As you can imagine, this is a day of mixed emotions. We have joy for Marie reengaging more actively and easily her own life. We are truly happy for Marie. We have great thankfulness for all that Marie has lovingly done for us. And, of course, we have sadness, as we will miss, not only Marie’s ministry, but even more so, we will miss Marie.

(Marie will still visit and we will visit her, and she will be here most every Saturday to help as we have our three granddaughters over each Saturday.)

A Shirley Update 

It has been quite some time since we provided a public, blog update on how Shirley is doing. First, some reminders. On June 4, 2021, the ER neurosurgeon said the next 72 hours would be critical—for Shirley’s survival. Over the next 6 weeks, 5 different neurosurgeons cautioned us not to get our hopes up that Shirley would ever walk again.

Well, to God be the glory, nineteen months later, Shirley is energetically, joyfully with us! Shirley is walking—sometimes with a cane, sometimes without a cane!

Shirley still does not have much use of or strength in her left arm, hand, and fingers. Shirley now has some limited movement of her left shoulder. Shirley faithfully participates in professional PT and OT weekly. And we faithfully do daily PT and OT exercises at home. Please continue to pray for the return of mobility, use, and strength in Shirley’s left arm/hand/fingers. And continue to pray for trust in and love for Christ regardless of what physical changes may or may not occur.

Spiritually/emotionally, both Shirley and I are learning daily more and more to cling to Christ. We are learning more and more that every day—every second—is a gift.

Speaking of Gifts 

Back to Marie…our Godsend gift…

Thank you, Marie, from Mom and Dad, for your incredible, loving, sacrificial, generous, gracious, kind, faithful ministry to us. We appreciate you! We respect you! Humanly speaking, we can’t imagine how we would have managed these nineteen months without you. We love you!