Posts Tagged With: encouragement

Where’s the Joy? A Widow’s Walk

Posted on July 22, 2025 by tricialathrop

July 20

“Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other’s gold.” We used to sing that in the Girl Scouts.

The last week, so that I wasn’t home on Norm’s birthday, I traveled to PA to Montrose Christian Writer’s Conference. I used to attend when we lived in NY. I haven’t been for the last 9 years because they changed the dates to correspond with Norm’s birthday…and I wanted to go on trips to celebrate with him.

It had been a long time, and some of those I remember were not there due to illness. A few keep tabs on Facebook and spoke of Norm and how they enjoyed his photos. I made some new friends and enjoyed hearing of their writing projects. It was and continues to be a place where a writer can receive encouragement, teaching and challenges.

Someone wrote me a beautiful note of encouragement, signed with initials that I did not recognize. Even though I don’t know who it was from, it is a note I will keep to read again when I need encouragement.

After the conference, I headed on up to Clifton Park to see friends from the church we attended. They had faithfully prayed for Norm and encouraged us along the way. I met with a few one on one, but was able to greet and worship with a number of them.

Where’s the joy?

I am thankful for friends, old and new. They bless my life with camaraderie and encouragement. I feel their support each day.

I pray that I will be an encouragement to those within my sphere of influence.

I rejoice that God provides what is needed for us to not only survive, but to thrive as we walk with one another on this earth.

Where’s the joy? No surprise, friends, old and new.

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

Romans 15:4-7

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: encouragement, faith, friends, hope, jesus, widow | Leave a comment

Where’s the Joy?

Posted on January 13, 2025 by tricialathrop

January 12

It’s been a few weeks. Norm got a great report, the lesion on his brain is almost gone. We are still waiting on the results of the body chemo.

Even though we have great news, it is tough maintaining a positive attitude. I guess chemo builds up in one’s body as the treatments progress. Norm is definitely doing better, he no longer needs a wheelchair to get around…but he struggles with continual weakness. This week he got down on the floor to fix a lose wire, and could not get back up.

It becomes a mind game. The reports say he should feel better, and he does, but not as much as he thinks he should. As a caretaker, first time through this, it is also difficult to encourage when I think he should be doing better.

We are in the middle third of the marathon and it is difficult. It takes every bit of strength and resolve that one has…but it feels as if all the strength and resolve no longer exists, and every bit of reserve is drained.

Where’s the joy, when the road is hard and we cannot even conjure up a positive thought? It feels like a major bump in the road that knocks us down, bringing progress to a grinding halt.

I think we have to settle in faith, what do I believe? When our senses tell us it’s too hard to continue, what keeps us going?

Jesus never promised an easy life. But he did promise to never leave us or forsake us.

God created us to live in community, so that we have friends and family to walk alongside us in our struggles.

I am thankful that the chemo treatments are working.

I pray for strength to continue fighting through the buildup of the chemo in the body.

I rejoice that God has this all in His hand. I can trust Him to do what is best.

Where’s the joy? Trusting in the One who always has our best in mind.

Sometimes, our fight is an object lesson to encourage those around us. Our struggle for integrity as we walk the path, may encourage another to keep going. People around the US are seeing their prayers for Norm answered, many we don’t even know.

I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah.

You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I consider the days of old, the years long ago. I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.”

Then my spirit made diligent search: Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion? Selah.

Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. Psalm 77:1-14

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: cancer, community, encouragement, faith, hope, jesus, joy | Leave a comment

Where’s the Joy?

Posted on December 9, 2024 by tricialathrop

December 8

Norm was alert enough today to take a few walks around his floor. While we walked we saw a lady, a fellow patient walking alone.

Norm went back to the room and I headed down to the cafeteria. As I exited his room, the lady walked by. I joined her as I headed to the door, but kept going with her instead of exiting. While we walked, she shared her story.

Like Norm, six months ago she was healthy. She danced ballet with a group that ministered in jails using song, dance and theater. She ate the right things, had an active lifestyle…all the good healthy things. But some cancers hit no matter how healthy you are. This one hit hard. It took time, doctors thought it was something else, tests and finally a trip to the ER discovered her cancer.

No one wants a diagnosis of cancer and the need for chemo therapy, radiation, or surgery. But a proper diagnosis will lead to the treatment necessary for healing, whatever one has.

I came away from this encounter thinking that all of us suffer in some way. It could be a broken relationship, illness, job insecurity, or lack thereof, addiction, failure…all of us struggle in some way, it’s the nature of our life on this world.

What we miss? We don’t have to struggle alone. God created us to live in community and he desires that we encourage one another along the way.

No matter where we are in our suffering, we can be an encouragement to another. It costs us nothing to give someone a genuine smile. It may be the encouragement one needs to keep trying.

A kind word goes a long way. The people who serve us in restaurants and stores, a kind word may give them the strength to keep going. That mom with a screaming kid doesn’t need your critical looks and snide remarks…I’ve been there…she’s already embarrassed.

A smile, a kind word, an act of kindness go a long way. If we take a moment to look outside our own box of struggles and show a bit of kindness to another, we will find our own burden a little lighter and perhaps get a spark of joy along the way.

I am thankful for the nurses and staff at UT Medical center floor 5West for their help, attention and kindness that they show to the patients and the families.

I pray for Norm, Donna, Tony and my new friend Cathy who are suffering with the surprise diagnosis of cancer, and enduring the treatments. I pray for their complete healing and strength to endure the treatments and wisdom for the doctors.

I rejoice that God gave us community so that we do not have to suffer alone.

Where’s the joy? Today, I found it in Cathy, a new friend with a great attitude.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: cancer, encouragement, hope, support, unity | Leave a comment

Elizabeth

Posted on December 7, 2022 by tricialathrop

At that time, Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear? But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” Luke 1:39-45

Elizabeth stands as one of the unsung heroes of faith. Descended from Aaron, she married Zechariah, a priest. Luke described her as upright in the sight of God. She observed all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. Not many in the Bible received such a glowing description. She did things the way God wanted them done, and yet, for all her faithfulness, she bore the title of “barren”.

Did others look at her and wonder if she were as righteous as she seemed? After all, she had no children, considered a sign of God’s approval. We get some insight into her feelings by her response to her pregnancy, “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” Luke 1:25

She hid out for the first five months of pregnancy. Her husband couldn’t talk after an encounter at the Temple. That must have caused quite a stir in the little town, rumors would have been abundant. “Did you hear what I heard about Zechariah and Elizabeth? They….”

The Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth and she loudly proclaimed a blessing on Mary and Jesus. In her humility, she wondered why Mary would come to her.

Why would Mary go anywhere else? They needed each other. They each carried children with a special calling from God on their lives. Their support probably included a time searching the Scripture to understand the expectations for their children. Together, they would have prepared for the arrival of John and Jesus.

Elizabeth and Zechariah eventually received the blessing of a son, in their old age. But for years, they lived without that visible sign of God’s favor, in fact, they lived in the shadow of disgrace.

Like the people in the first century, we have ideas of how God blesses those who are faithful to Him, but He doesn’t always come through in the way we want. God’s plan for the benefit of many, may mean a delay in receiving our heart’s desire.

Elizabeth serves as an example of faithfulness. The people around her may have doubted her righteousness during all the barren years, but she continued to walk in the way of the Lord.

Lord, help us to be faithful to You despite painful circumstances or the judgement of others. Give us the strength to remain true to Your ways. While we struggle in righteousness, open our eyes and hearts to encourage those around us.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: advent, elizabeth, encouragement, faithfulness | Leave a comment