Stay in God's Grip!
  • Home
  • Todd's Blog
  • Remember Me When
  • Contact

 While in God's Grip!

Come to me...

8/18/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
~ Matthew 11:28 - 30

This morning I am making plans to meet with a family that I have known for a few years now as they place a loved one on hospice.  I have been on several journeys with them, as I have served as both a chaplain and pastor for them.  A few years ago I met the matriarch of the family when she was on hospice, who smiled each time I entered the home as she welcomed me.  Her husband, one of the true heroes of WWII, who marched into Japan just days after the atomic bomb changed the world forever, would show me photos that he took, and share how "God walked with us."

I soon met their grandson, who would come and watch football games with his grandfather, and help to organize plants on the patio.  The two were so much fun to watch, as they would root for opposing teams, and laugh at poorly delivered jokes.

On Easter morning before going to the church I serve, I made the trip to Sugar Land to break bread with them and celebrate with the words, "He is Risen!"  Within eighteen months, I would preside at the funeral for all three of these people.

Funny how life is like that.  Funny how my life just seems to be full of people in the final chapters of their life.  While hospice is like that, it is also about helping others through these chapters.  

I know today when I enter the home of this family, the familiar, "Pastor Todd," will be the name they will call me.  The name given to me by the matriarch who refused to call me, "Todd."  I will once again be listening to how another final chapter is being written, and I will once again hold their hands as we pray.

These are "normal" days for me.  In many ways, I am reminding myself that Jesus was not afraid of, or overwhelmed by things like this.  Instead, he invites us to bring it all before him.  The words of Matthew seem to resonate within me as I think of the day before me... "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-30)

These are the words that we can carry with us as we all remain in God's grip!

G. Todd Williams (c) 2020
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Rev. G. Todd Williams lives in the Houston metro area and is a Hospice Chaplain at Essential Hospice, Webster, Texas, and is an ordained Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) pastor.

    He serves as the Stated Supply to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Galveston, Texas.

    His new book, "Remember Me When..." is available through Chalice Press.

    Archives

    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Todd's Blog
  • Remember Me When
  • Contact