Choosing to SEE - Mary Beth Chapman [100]
God knew all of that. He knows all of my pain, and somehow I am trusting that He alone is the One who is going to fix it, heal it, make it right . . . when it is time.
Until then, I’ll still be asking God to let me see her, feel her, smell her. And so if you see a woman who is a little disheveled walking the aisles of T.J. Maxx with tears streaming down her face . . . it’s probably me!
You see, no matter how much I can tell you it’s getting easier, I still end up back where I started. I want so badly to be the strong Christian woman who keeps taking those steps ahead and making that awesome progress.
Yet, when all is said and done, I think I’m going to have to settle for the Little Engine That Could, telling Jesus, “I think I can, I think I can!” and believing it . . . even when I don’t!
From “Just Have To Wait”
words and music by Steven Curtis Chapman
Well I can’t wait to SEE your smile again
The one when your eyes disappear along with all my troubles
And I can’t wait to hear you sing a song
Maybe “Jesus Loves Me” or a song you learned up there
Well I can’t wait to hear your mama laugh
The way that only you can make her laugh when you get silly
And I can’t wait to SEE you in her arms
And know the wound so deep inside her heart is healed for good
And I can’t wait to dance with you again
Knowing that this time the dance will never have to end
And I can’t wait to SEE your sisters play
The way they do when all of you are playing all together
And I can’t wait to watch your brother’s face
When he can finally SEE with his own eyes
That everything’s okay
But I, oh, I just have to wait
’Cause I know that day is coming
So I, oh, I just have to wait
40
Year Endings
and New Beginnings
There is nothing we can do with suffering except to suffer it.
C. S. Lewis
After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 5:10 ESV
The Chapmans’ Christmas Letter 2009!
M•E•R•R•Y C•H•R•I•S•T•M•A•S!
M:
May 10, 2009, Steven and I welcomed a new daughter-in-law into the family! Caleb and Julia were married in a quaint ceremony by a lake . . . just like she always dreamed of. She is no newbie around us! Caleb and Julia have been best buddies since elementary school!
God truly showed off bringing these two beautiful people together. Julia’s brother David is Willy Frank’s best friend . . . and her mom? Only one of my closest buddies in the world! How great is that? Julia works at Show Hope and teaches dance part time, and supports Caleb as he pursues his musical interests and continues all the video work at Show Hope!
E:
Emily and Tanner headed for the beautiful green land o’ the Irish in September. They are currently students at Belfast Bible College and are loving the challenge of being in school together, and learning all they can about the Bible and God’s love and message for them!
R:
Ruthy and Will are now dating long distance, but for the most part, it has worked out well. Ruthy is finished with school this December and will have a semester break and some summer fun before starting college in the fall. Wherever she ends up going, that university will be lucky to have her! Talk about a smart girl!
R:
Reaching double digits! Shaoey, that is! Shaohannah celebrated her tenth birthday this year! We celebrated with ten of her closest friends and a bunch of family and others back in August. We got her an iPod. That little stinker is so smart. She sold it to her brother Caleb, took the money she made from that, added her birthday money from various grandparents, and headed on over to Best Buy to purchase an iTouch. Now when she is around WiFi, she can text her big sister Emily and her buddy Tanner all the way in Ireland . . . for free . . . thanks to Skype!
Y:
Yelling and yearning: That pretty much sums Mary Beth up. I’m in the second year of grieving one of the six best things to ever be