Dear Dad, Happy Father’s Day! On fifty-three occasions you have celebrated this day as a father. I wonder what your memories are of our very first one. For the record, my memory of that occasion is a little fuzzy. Over the years, my respect for you has grown, not because you are more worthy but … Continue reading The Joy of Parenting: Dear Dad
Evaluating Life…again.
I spent some time evaluating life this weekend. Everyone should take stock every so often but I think it is vitally important when life seems to be in constant flux, constantly adapting. That is the way I feel the last three years have been. The reality is that everyone has to make adaptations throughout life … Continue reading Evaluating Life…again.
Lessons Learned Loving Carrie into Heaven
Lessons Learned Loving Carrie into Heaven Sermon Audio Sermon January 26 & 27, 2013 Introduction: Good evening/morning. Some of you here today may not know me. Around the Cedar Street Church family I’m known as Pastor Jeff Johnson. I’m also known as dad to three young men, uncle to two of the cutest nieces, and … Continue reading Lessons Learned Loving Carrie into Heaven
THE Anniversary and An Afirmation of Life
The day has finally arrived: the one year anniversary of Carrie’s death. Together, me, the boys, and all who have been part of our life have experienced every anniversary during the last twelve months. There was mother’s day, the birthdays, wedding anniversary, the holidays, and many private anniversaries. Each met with warm, wonderful memories as … Continue reading THE Anniversary and An Afirmation of Life
A Year Ago: Remembered
A year ago today, January 7, I was in a hospital room with Carrie as her body was steadily failing. The prognosis had gone from a fair chance of surgery which would heal her to maintenance of the spreading cancer to a few more months of life then, finally, to imminent death within a day or … Continue reading A Year Ago: Remembered
Widowered Fathering: Figuring Out Our New Traditions
Happy New Year! It’s 2013. Out with the old and in with the new… Wait! seriously? I’m pretty comfortable with some of the old, maybe even a lot of it. Besides, new makes me itch! Itch or not, there is no way around all the new in my life. It seems that it’s part and parcel … Continue reading Widowered Fathering: Figuring Out Our New Traditions
Sunday Post 103: Happy Times
Another widowed father voicing similar understanding that life still has much to offer even after experiencing a life-changing tragedy such as the death of a spouse.
Being in the play A Christmas Carol does a lot of good for me in many ways. When you spend 75 days listening to the lines of a grumpy old man whose only life’s focus is money, it begins to sink in.
Toward the end of the play Scrooge says, “I was just remembering my happy times. They seem so very far away.”
I wonder how many people there are in the world who share that same sentiment.
There have certainly been times over the past couple of years when I felt like life just didn’t seem to be worth living without Lisa. But life is big.
Perhaps I won’t ever find love like I had with her, maybe that is behind me.
But as I look at those around me, I’m beginning to realize that few of us live with every aspect of our existence exactly where we want it to be. Fortunately for me…
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A Ready Date and Social Substitutes
One of the things I miss about not having Carrie around is always having a ready date. I am aware that this doesn't sound too romantic but stay with me a moment. For nearly 30 years (I’m including dating and rounding a little) if I wanted to do something with someone she was my first … Continue reading A Ready Date and Social Substitutes
Widowerhood, Withouts, and Thankfulness
It’s the eve of Thanksgiving and I just put down a book, Intimate Relationships, which talks mostly about marriage. It’s one of those scholarly type books that one doesn’t just breeze through. The section I read tonight talked about the dissolution of marriage and loss. Interestingly, the topic of widows and widowers was mentioned, all … Continue reading Widowerhood, Withouts, and Thankfulness
Boom!
As a reader of this blog you may or may not know that my wife died of pancreatic cancer earlier this year. So it has been a year of firsts, including, at least mentally, recognizing the monthly anniversary of her passing. I almost missed yesterday; it was the 10 month anniversary. Interestingly, it didn't dawn … Continue reading Boom!
think relationally... 