12.9- My siblings and their spouses.

 12.9-

My siblings and their spouses.

They all have lived fully because they knew their life here in this realm is limited. Some lived to be in their 60s or 70s or 80s or even 90s. They lived like each day was precious and they worked, played, rested and worshipped with passion. (L to R) Hazanne and Bill Luttrell, Reed and Gene Wishard and Bill and Helen Wishard. Bill, Reed and Gene have finished their worked and been moved to heaven.

Sheila and I learned so much about how to live an enjoyable life in this complex world. Some of the priorities they put on things would seem like nonsense to the world. Yes, there was the normal sibling jokes and fun making at each other’s expense, but beyond that was a deep bond of communication having grown up together with our parents showing us the importance of celebration. This picture was taken in the context of the 60th birthday of Reed. I could see through these pictures joy of Reed being loved by so many because he could laugh at himself and laugh with you laughing at him. He was a natural comedian.

All six were aware that they wanted their workplace and their home to be places of peace, but often the workplace was not peaceful, but rather chaotic. Maybe that is the reason they were hired to do the work because people believed in them to be able to get the needed joy done in an orderly way. These jobs all stressed them from time to time as jobs do, but they all believed that life was something bigger than their jobs.

All of these siblings of mine helped to train me to face suffering but to look beyond it to the joy that lay beyond the suffering. They all depended upon prayer to help them through things without completely understanding it. They all were taught by the families to be bold and positively expectant about telling God what you need and what you want. Many times the answer to their cries and prayers were “Yes.”.

This picture reminded me today of how thankful I am for Sheila and I being placed in a family like this.

Matthew 6.

25 “For this reason I say to you, [q]do not be worried about your [r]life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? 27 And which of you by worrying can add a single [s]day to his [t]life’s span? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But [u]seek first [v]His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be [w]provided to you.

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20Sandy Wallace, Larry Wilterdink and 18 others

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