2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one
Like most couples, my husband of almost 37 years and I had occasionally chatted about those “someday” dreams, when we might travel to places where we’d never been, or minister as short-term missionaries.
In 2017 he “graduated” to a suffering-free life. A year or so beforehand, I began to realize how fragile life is, and that I should start to prepare myself for living without him. Earlier that year, we were told that his case was chronic; in other words, no cure was to be expected.
The end came rather unexpectedly, with no time to say goodbye or even “I love you”, though of course those latter words were repeated often over the years.
Mourning brought with it lonely days and nights in an empty house. At the same time, more than ever before in my life, I clung to God and discovered new treasures in his Word as they spoke to my new situation.
Life is unpredictable. We can’t put our trust in humans, in our own dreams, or in our own expectations.
Although some people assured me that I was “a strong woman” and would survive, I knew that I was weak by nature. My true strength was my heavenly Father. As Paul said, “he will strengthen you.”
My husband’s name was Refugio, or Refuge, but at the end of the day I have had to realize that my true, unfailing refuge is the Lord.
Margie, Refugio and their grandchildren in 2016.
She says, “These (along with her two children) are gifts the train of life has given me.”
Margie is Canadian, and we became friends at Wheaton College. We dreamed of being partners in mission to some remote place, she as a Bible translator and I as a doctor. Then Dave and I started dating, and she went to Mexico and met Refugio . . . Margie lives in Puebla, Mexico, where she writes and teaches. The last time I had seen her was at my wedding, but she made the trip from Puebla to Cuernavaca to visit my sister and me when I was visiting Jan a couple of years ago, a lovely treat!
Margie is translating Karis, All I See Is Grace into Spanish! Please pray for her in this challenging work of love.
Debra Kornfield 