by Lynette Auch, President of Lutherans For Life
As I write to you, it is the start of a new year—a cold, sunny January day. I eagerly review my new, colorful seed catalog in anticipation of warmer days when I can sink my hands into the warming soil to plant little power houses of life—the seeds of plants provided and created by the Author of Life, the Ruach Elohiym (Holy Spirit). I cannot help but wonder what the future holds.
All of us have experienced hard years, with more on the horizon. Our nation and world have seen the worst of times and the best of times. My own family has had its share of good news and sad news, witnessed and experienced health and sickness, life and death. One could easily look to the future with foreboding. But …
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead …” (1 Peter 1:3 NIV).
My beloved mother-in-law, Alvina, lives life with this living hope! She has spent her life as an honorable “foot-washer,” a servant of God. She lovingly worked and served alongside her husband of over 60 years, Robert, on their farm, raising a family, contributing to, and participating in, their church and community. As Robert’s health failed, Alvina was right by his side, caring for his every need with love and dignity to the very end of his life, allowing Robert to enter the gates of heaven from his own home.
Alvina has spent many of her days lovingly assisting and encouraging family members and friends through their individual trials and tribulations. Much like my own mother, who became everyone’s mother when my cousins’ mothers died, my mother-in-law has now become everyone’s mother, as the cousins’ parents have died, and she is the only living tie to their parents.
Last summer (2021), my mother-in-law was diagnosed with uterine cancer and is currently receiving treatment. Rather than allowing herself to be filled with grief and saying, “Woe is me. Why me?” Alvina said to her doctor, “Well, what we do about it? Let’s get started. I have a life to live.”
My mother-in-law’s generation, as generations before her, have and had much to share with the younger generations, and they are our lifeline to yesteryear’s wisdom.
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream … It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” President Ronald Reagan
Christianity is also never more than one generation away from extinction. I praise God for the generations before us who lived as examples and are living examples and pillars of the faith of Jesus Christ. Sadly, this generation is a dying generation, as war has been waged upon them. We must cherish and glean this wisdom and learn from this faith while we still can.
“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4).
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Despite loss of her hair and other physical discomforts along the way, Alvina knows she belongs to God. She knows she has been called out of the darkness, ugliness, and sadness of this world into His wonderful light to declare His praises. She does this by remaining strong in her faith, living out her faith through her actions, radiating God’s love through her love of life. She is a powerhouse of life, a gift and a blessing to many who know and love her, and her wisdom is a treasure to behold. Her faith and strength are an inspiration to her family and friends. She is, indeed, an amazing woman living an amazing life, created by a more than amazing God!
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11:13).
We don’t know how long we will have treasures like my mother-in-law and others of her generation beside us on the journey through this foreign land, but God has a plan for each of us and promises to be with us always, on this amazing journey, even until the end of this life as we enter His eternal kingdom.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).