Long Awaited Reunion

Jack and I were married nearly 18 years ago. He told me of his childhood. His mom left with his two sisters when he was 5. The next time he saw them, he was in high school, then not again. Life and hurts, misunderstandings and far distances kept them apart. Some how Jane, Jack's niece (his oldest sister, Joys', daughter) and I got in contact with one another. Together we started praying. Jane and I kept in touch through the years. Jack talked with each of his sisters once in our earlier years of marriage. Our children grew and had children of their own. They grew and helped Jack understand some of his hurts, some of his misconceptions. He believed he would never be reunited with his family, they were too broken and too far away. The Lord kept on healing, gradually a little at a time the cracks in a small boys broken heart were mended and bonded with the power of love in his new grandchildren and the little boy was made whole as a man grown in Christ.
God knew when the time would be right. Jane and I kept praying. Then last spring Jack and I realized we needed to find a new place to live. We had a nice condo, but we are getting older and would do better in a one level place with a real and safe workshop for Jack. That has been blogged about in previous blogs.
We find ourselves less than 2 months after the sale of our condo in Denver, Colorado, the exact place where his oldest sister, Joy - her daughter and son in law Rob and their families live.

We arrive in Denver on Wednesday October 1st. Thursday we rest. Friday we move into our apartment and Jack called Jane. They talk and laugh and share for an hour or more. Jane usually picks her mother, Joy, up on Saturday's and brings her home with her for the day. Together they babysit Jane's grand daughter (2) Samantha.

Saturday October 4th Jack and I drive 1/2 hour north and for the first time in 50 years Jack and Joy see each other. The greeting is indescribable. We picked up a dozen roses for Joy and a colorful bouquet for Jane. Jack and Joy looked and looked at each other, soaking in the reality and newness of who they are. As Joy said, "Jack you are your own person now, I know you as a real person." And Jack, too, knows and sees Joy as the real person and sister she is. They were able to reminisce about some old times and growing up in Lyndonville. Joy and Jane share some of the tragedies of sister Gay's life and times...loosing 2 daughters within a year of each other, and each with small children at the time of their deaths. One to an accident and the other to illness, sudden and fatal. Gay has been able to keep a positive attitude according to Jane and relishes in her grandchildren...now grown. Most of the meeting is a time of awe and thankfulness. Gay is planning on joining Jack, Joy, Jane and her family for a visit soon to Denver. Gay will stay with Jane and Rob. As soon as Julie knows her hospital schedule we will plan the date. Jack and Jane also talked of Christmas and how special that will be. Jack is 68, Joy is 78 and Gay is 73.
We were, unfortunately, exhausted quickly and felt it was time to leave after about 2 hours. We will be in touch again soon and come back again to visit often and longer.
As soon as we got back into the car Jack broke down in tears and sobbed and sobbed. Thanking the Lord for the healing and reuniting with his sister. Thankful, so very thankful to be able to hold her, and give her a kiss and tell her he loves her, to talk with her. "An empty void in my life, in my heart is now gone, Julie" he said. " I cannot describe to you how that feels, there is a wholeness I have never known. I know my own flesh and blood, my own family...it is real, it is so real, I can feel a healing like never before..."

There is a healer in the house and His Name is Jesus Christ.


Praise the Lord!

Grace and Peace