A definite highlight of my summer was a Neall family reunion here on our home turf in Arkansas. Nearly 40 of us gathered on campus and rented the college men’s dorm like an Airbnb. They were willing to travel from, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina and even Idaho so I could still be part of things, but not have to make a difficult trip.
We had four, fun-filled days of joyful laughter, engaging games, inspiring worships, water play, great stories, yummy food, meaningful fellowship and a few sympathizing tears. I enjoyed watching young and old play sock tag, slide down a 100 foot slippy slide and join in a host of other memorable activities.
One especially meaningful moment for me was when the family all donned colorful bandannas over their mouths (like me!) for a group picture to show their solidarity and support. What a great family I am blessed with!
All to soon it was time to say goodbye. After arriving home, one family member texted me the following heartfelt message:
“Shelly, I keep thinking about the last few minutes of seeing you, as Daniel and family were leaving, and I with them. Tears were streaming from your eyes, and I was trying to wipe them. Then we all left, us to live our lives, you to lie there. So unfair.”
I texted back a response, “Awww.. Thank you for your empathy and care. You’re right, it’s not fair. Not much in this life is! Sometimes I feel the unfairness keenly, but overall I’ve come to trust Him and accept my “unfair” new life. Jesus’ death on the cross for us was the ultimate unfairness! I still have so much to be thankful for and live for! There’s a better day coming!”
Life is unfair. I know many of you reading this have a very different and difficult family situation. You may have a lot of pain or stress in your family background and when you try to get together the days are filled with tensions and questions. You may almost envy the fun-filled family reunion I described. I wish everyone could experience the joy of having a close family.
But just remember, life is not fair and we all experience pain and hardship in one form or another. My family’s trial has been in the form of dealing with the quagmire of me having ALS, whereas you may be stuck in the bog of a difficult family situation or whatever unfairness you have experienced in your life.
However we can know that:
“When God puts His people in the furnace He keeps His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat. He knows how little and how much.”
-Warren Weirsby
Our trials are not unknown to Him. He’s with us in them and helping us through them. Reunion day is coming when God will wipe every tear from our eyes. In the meantime let’s learn to be thankful for the things we DO have, not bemoan the things we don’t, even when things seem unfair.
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