Larry Devich
Saturday, July 29, 2006
The Crystal Hummingbird
This is not a book review in the normal sense. It is my reaction to this story, but really it's not a review. I cannot say anything about the style or the flow or anything else I might normally say about a book I've read. That is because the experience of reading this book was an exceptionally personal and emotional one. I had to set it aside for a couple of days around the mid-point because I was so drained emotionally. You see, Bella Rossiter is my "Aunt Bella-Marie." She is my mom's youngest sister and her son Jimmy was my cousin. This is the heart wrenching story of her grief at the death of her youngest son, Jimmy. In this book we travel with her into the darkness of despair, and with the help of the Lord, out into the light on the other side.
For most of my life I have been somewhat isolated from my family. It is only in the last few years that I have begun to slowly reconnect with my Mom and with my Dad shortly before his death from cancer, and with my sister Kari. Recently Bella has been sharing things with me via e-mail, photo slide shows of things she has been doing. Now, in this intimate book, I find myself knowing her better than ever before, even though for a time, when I had just joined the Army, I lived with her family. I was never that close to her in those days. I was a disturbed and rebellious 17 year old at the time and was not capable of genuinely getting to know people. Not long after staying with them I descended into drugs and declared (not genuine) atheism and lost all contact with my family. I want to thank Bella for this glimpse into events that I witnessed from afar. Most of all I want to thank my Lord Jesus Christ for His love for all of us in our family, no matter how disturbed or sinful we are he never ever gives up on us. Even when our sins are most grievous He still forgives us. We tend to think that our big sins mean we are not really Christians, that is not the truth though, it is a lie told to us by the accuser. If one falls into some sin, say alcoholism or drugs, that is no more a bar to God's forgiveness than an angry feeling toward a brother. In the world they may be different, they may have more severe consequences for our lives, but in the eyes of God they are not different, we are all sinners each and every day and will remain so until this "body of death" finally breathes its last. Only through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus do we have forgiveness of our sins. It is good to know that my cousin Jimmy is with the Lord, and I do look forward to seeing him again one day.
Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us Bella! ¶ 7/29/2006 09:50:00 AM 1 Comments
This is not a book review in the normal sense. It is my reaction to this story, but really it's not a review. I cannot say anything about the style or the flow or anything else I might normally say about a book I've read. That is because the experience of reading this book was an exceptionally personal and emotional one. I had to set it aside for a couple of days around the mid-point because I was so drained emotionally. You see, Bella Rossiter is my "Aunt Bella-Marie." She is my mom's youngest sister and her son Jimmy was my cousin. This is the heart wrenching story of her grief at the death of her youngest son, Jimmy. In this book we travel with her into the darkness of despair, and with the help of the Lord, out into the light on the other side.
For most of my life I have been somewhat isolated from my family. It is only in the last few years that I have begun to slowly reconnect with my Mom and with my Dad shortly before his death from cancer, and with my sister Kari. Recently Bella has been sharing things with me via e-mail, photo slide shows of things she has been doing. Now, in this intimate book, I find myself knowing her better than ever before, even though for a time, when I had just joined the Army, I lived with her family. I was never that close to her in those days. I was a disturbed and rebellious 17 year old at the time and was not capable of genuinely getting to know people. Not long after staying with them I descended into drugs and declared (not genuine) atheism and lost all contact with my family. I want to thank Bella for this glimpse into events that I witnessed from afar. Most of all I want to thank my Lord Jesus Christ for His love for all of us in our family, no matter how disturbed or sinful we are he never ever gives up on us. Even when our sins are most grievous He still forgives us. We tend to think that our big sins mean we are not really Christians, that is not the truth though, it is a lie told to us by the accuser. If one falls into some sin, say alcoholism or drugs, that is no more a bar to God's forgiveness than an angry feeling toward a brother. In the world they may be different, they may have more severe consequences for our lives, but in the eyes of God they are not different, we are all sinners each and every day and will remain so until this "body of death" finally breathes its last. Only through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus do we have forgiveness of our sins. It is good to know that my cousin Jimmy is with the Lord, and I do look forward to seeing him again one day.
Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us Bella! ¶ 7/29/2006 09:50:00 AM 1 Comments
Saturday in Week 7 of Pentecost (Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany)
Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany were disciples with whom Jesus had a special bond of love and friendship. John's Gospel records that "Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus" (John 11:15). On one occasion Martha welcomed Jesus into their home for a meal. While she did all the work, Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening to his Word and was commended by Jesus for choosing the "good portion which will not be taken away from her" (Lk 10:38-42). When their brother Lazarus died, Jesus spoke to Martha this beautiful Gospel promise: "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live" (John 11:25-27). Ironically, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, it made Jesus' enemies more determined than ever to kill him (John 11:39-54). Six days before Jesus was crucified, Mary anointed his feet with a very expensive fragrant oil and wiped them with her hair, not knowing at the time that she was doing it in preparation for Jesus' burial (John 12:1-8; Mt 26:6-13). [From "Commemorations Biographies," Lutheran Service Book, LCMS Commission on Worship]
Daily readings
Numbers 24:12-25
Romans 8:18-25
Matthew 22:23-40
The second two passages above deal with the resurrection of the dead. This is the great hope of all Christians, that one day we will be raised again in glorified bodies, bodies that never age or get sick or die. I have encountered some Christians who denied this! They were of the opinion that we become "spirit beings" after death and they did not see any reason for having a body after that. I was amazed and dismayed at their lack of biblical knowledge. The resurrection of our bodies is the whole point of Christianity! We are beings both physical and spiritual, without our bodies we are incomplete, just as without our spirits we are not really alive. As St. Paul says "but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." The full adoption as sons takes place when our actual bodies are redeemed!
Amen. ¶ 7/29/2006 08:23:00 AM 0 Comments
Daily readings
Numbers 24:12-25
Romans 8:18-25
Matthew 22:23-40
The second two passages above deal with the resurrection of the dead. This is the great hope of all Christians, that one day we will be raised again in glorified bodies, bodies that never age or get sick or die. I have encountered some Christians who denied this! They were of the opinion that we become "spirit beings" after death and they did not see any reason for having a body after that. I was amazed and dismayed at their lack of biblical knowledge. The resurrection of our bodies is the whole point of Christianity! We are beings both physical and spiritual, without our bodies we are incomplete, just as without our spirits we are not really alive. As St. Paul says "but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." The full adoption as sons takes place when our actual bodies are redeemed!
Amen. ¶ 7/29/2006 08:23:00 AM 0 Comments
