Taking Out the Trash

(written by SAD) – That is not a significant event on an ordinary Tuesday. My husband always takes out the trash on Tuesday morning.  But today, I took out the trash.  My wonderful, faithful, godly husband is gone.  He left 2 days ago headed for the other side of the world.  He is taking the light into the dark.  He is exchanging trash for truth.   And that realization –that God has found him faithful and has trusted him to take His light into the darkest parts of the world — is the only thing that is getting us through.  

Our neighbor left several days before S, and his family came to my house to cry and grieve.  Another visitor came by to check on them and said that he couldn’t do this if he had a family…he couldn’t understand how S and our neighbor could leave their families …  My response to that comment is (and always has been)  ”you could do it if God asked you to do it.”  This other person responded, “I think I’d  go find a whale instead.”    Yes, that might be the easy thing…and there are times when my selfishness rears its ugly head and demands that…but then I step back and realize that if S had chosen the whale, he wouldn’t be the man I married in the first place.  As hard as obedience may be, our willingness to obey (or not to obey) defines who we are.  And who S is…is a man who follows the Lord no matter the cost.  If he didn’t obey in this…all the things he has stood for in the past would be swallowed into the belly of the whale right along with him.  I am hurt that he is gone, but I am so proud of him! 

Many of you have said over and over that you are praying for us.  Here are some specifics:

… that S will have good, usable facilities when he gets set up, including a private area for counseling as well as an office area for study and preparation. 

… that he will be able to get rest when possible and that he would not have problems with allergies, etc

…that the kids and I will settle back into a good, focused routine with school. 

…that 7 weeks will come quickly (we are headed home for Christmas!)

…that somehow S will be able to perform the wedding ceremony for our dear, dear friends in Perryton LIVE from Iraq on January 5  (this is a biggie!)

Thanks again for all the love, support, and encouragement!  Be watching for a link to my own new blog…I’m trying to get that set up this week.  S said that he is planning to get back to this blog himself, hopefully updating about once a week.