Yehonathan

 

This blog is dedicated to the memory of a friend, Sharon, and to the family she leaves behind.

    What an unusual preparation day I had this last Friday. I spent the morning at Sharon's memorial service and, of course, bumped into a lot of people I haven't seen for quite some time.

    Our children grew up together in church and youth, but although I knew Sharon, we weren't very close. What a discovery it was when I heard the stories of her life and testimony!

    I didn't know she was an orphan or that she had gone through traumas in her life. One would never have said it. She always seemed such a strong woman of faith.

    She was more than that. Seeing the huge turnout for her memorial service was one thing. Hearing of her spiritual impact in the lives, not only of her children and husband, but also of so many other people, was another. She was truly loved by many. What a treasure she was and will remain. May her memory be forever a blessing.

    Sharon's children have grown up into such beautiful, strong, well-spoken young ladies. When I heard them talk about their mom with such love and admiration - and not only them, everyone that spoke about her! - I wondered if I had been even half as much a good mother to my children as she had been to hers. I can only hope and pray that I, like Sharon, will leave a good legacy for my children.

    As I was standing at one of the tables sipping my coffee, two ladies joined me and one of them kept staring straight at me. After a few unsure minutes I found myself saying:

    "Do I know you?" (I hope I didn't sound unfriendly).

    Without uttering a word, she kept staring at me.  My brain was very busy doing some serious computing. Then I almost shouted in sudden realisation:

    "Maryanne!"

    And she smiled and said: 

    "I wondered how long it would take you!"

    Our children also grew up together. We also haven't seen each other for many years. It was so cool to bump into her again. We hope to resume our friendship via social media, as she has moved out of our city.

    During the morning hours before Sharon's service, I did some updating of my lists at home. One of them is my Yartzheit list. I added Sharon's name to it so that I can henceforth remember her every year on the anniversary of her passing.

    Another list contains the names of the various teachers I watch and listen to - there are 14 of them! It was a bit messy because I kept adding names to it on the side, so I wrote it out neatly. As I look at the list now, I realise there is another course that should go on there! But I will not redo something for a third time! The new course can stay in my diary!

    This morning before the Shabbat service I attend online, I was reading the 7th aliyah of the Torah portion and then turned to the Haftarah portion (the prophets). It was 2 Kings 4:1-37, but I just read the entire chapter.

    I was reminded of how Yeshua went into the room and closed the door of the little girl who was thought to be dead and, accompanied by his closest two disciples, He raised the young lady to life.

    By the time I got to verse 38 and the rest of the chapter, I found myself exclaiming:

    "Yeshua! I find it so delightful when I find You doing things the fathers did!" (Yes, I actually used those exact words!)

    How Elisha saved everyone from dying from eating a pot of poisoned soup by adding flour, reminded me of the asp that bit Shaul (Paul) and he didn't die, and also of Yeshua's words:

    "And these signs will accompany those who do trust: In my name they will drive out demons, speak with new tongues, not be injured if they handle snakes or drink poison," - Mark 16: 17-18.

    

    Verse 42-44 of 2 Kings Chapter 4 is so reminiscent of the two stories of Yeshua feeding thousands of people with a handful of food and still having leftovers!

    King Solomon tells us there is nothing new under the sun, and that everything that has happened, will happen again. This doesn't take anything away from Yeshua being the Saviour of the world, it just proves it is true on an even deeper level! He was sent by God!

Shavu'a Tov!