Strand of Pearls
October 24 was my father’s birthday. Dr. Whitman Fraser was a beloved physician in Hinesville for 27 years. He entered eternal life in March of 1995. He spoke life to his patients, family and friends physically, mentally, and spiritually. My siblings and I wish to continue his legacy of living life to the fullest regardless of the circumstances and being willing vessels of God’s living water that we share with all who cross our paths.
I hosted a retreat in my home led by Bettina Schuller that began October 24 entitled: Practicing the Presence of God in all Life’s Circumstances. We had a different scripture to reflect on each day of the retreat.
John 9:2-3 Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You are looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do.”
Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me and my place of safety.
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Hebrews 2:18 Because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.
The following are some of the quotes shared during the retreat:
Mary Jane Worden: Sometimes when we ask God our why questions he gives us Himself, the Comforter.
Joseph Campbell: Find a place inside where there is joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.
Etty Hillesum: There are moments when I feel like giving up or giving in, but I soon rally again and do my duty as I see it: to keep the spark of life inside me ablaze.
My sister wrote out her post-op plan as follows:
Trust God!
Rest & Relax
Move Slow
Walk with God
Recover
DO NOT act out of fear!
Trust God!
SPEAK LIFE
The following quote was taken from The Word for You Today devotional for October 23:
Lori Schneider is one of very few women to climb Mt. Everest-yet another step on a climb she started ten years earlier when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Terrified, but determined to achieve her goal, she quit her job and devoted herself to climbing. Nine years later she’d conquered the peaks on six of the earth’s continents! “Lori sees MS not as a negative, but a positive,” her father said. “She accepted it as a challenge.” Unfurling a banner in honor of the first World MS Day, she called her dad on a satellite phone: “I’M HERE ON THE SUMMIT! I MADE IT!” A dream sixteen years in the making realized! Now her goal is to show others who face challenges that even the highest mountain can be climbed one step at a time. In Staying the Course, BJ Gallagher writes: “Our journey….is about progress, not perfection. It is NOT about doing one thing 100% better-IT’S DOING 100 things 1% better each day. Progress is evolutionary, not revolutionary……most days we measure in inches, not miles. What matters most is showing up for your life whether you feel like it or not. Ask yourself, what two or three things can I do today that would move me forward? You’ll be amazed how much distance you can cover taking it in increments. Little things add up; inches turn into miles. We string together our efforts like so many pearls and before long…..you have a whole strand.”
Written by
Sherry Fraser Somerville