Yesterday was special, we spent a best part of the day with Valaree. The world defines her relationship as my stepdaughter. She is more than that to me. Today’s her birthday, and she had another appointment so, we partied yesterday. Val believes in God; He is with her every day giving her an attitude that blesses me greatly. Her husband, Tim, her mom who is my wife Vicki, and I shared cheese and crackers in the kitchen and did some family chattering. As most men probably do, Tim and I left the women to talk, there is a creek out his back door and a huge pile of branches. Something needing a closer look.
We looked long enough to come up with a plan to clear it away, this dying tree that blocked Val’s view. Standing down by the creek we didn’t say much but listened to the sound of water. We both were aware of the occasion. Valaree’s party included a movie called “Little Women”, a life story of four sisters growing up poor with their father off to war. One of the sisters, Joe, cuts off her hair and sells it so her mother could have the money. A novel put to film at least five different times is certainly worth seeing in any of its versions, but that was not our reason for watching. We were there to cut Val’s hair.
I mentioned that God is the One who gives Val attitude. She trusts in God, conscientious of the fire that is now refining her faith. A faith that is visible to all who know her. A faith that is strong, positive and enduring as she deals with her portion in life. Today she is thirty-six and her appointment was for her second session of chemotherapy. On days that she will lay in her bed that dying tree will not be there to block her view. We love you, Valaree.
“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” (1 Peter 1:6-7 NASB)
His Family Table 