| Ash Wednesday Nancy's Story |
| Ash Wednesday Nancy's Story |
I consider myself the strong one, an Abba, who happily helps out others with their burdens. Little did I know, I was really the leper, who needed to be helped.
My name is Nancy Lynch and I am a mother of 14 children each given to me in varying ways, though not through the birthing process.
Thru my journey of regular adoptions, I was led into foster parenting babies and children with disabilities. My husband Don and I have fostered over 50 children for short or long terms.
Our “at home” family consisted of seven young adults, with a variety of disabilities. They arrived as babies through foster care and then adoption. Experiencing their strength, courage, and enthusiasm each day gives “carrying power” to me.
Five years ago, we lost one of them. Jacob was filled with happiness, and gave our family immense joy. He had suffered had a massive brain bleed when he was just one week old. It left him “child like” with many medical and physical issues. Jacob died unexpectedly the night before our annual trip to Maui. Immediately, a community of angels surrounded our family to help us with our burden of grief:
The pastor was giving an accolade of Jacob, when two whales breached close by and four sea turtles raised their heads by our canoes in a moment of salute to welcome Jacob to the sea. Hawaiians believe this is God’s way of welcoming you to the other side.
Truly an awesome experience!
After the high, of all of these wonderful communities, helping us carry our burden of grief, I expected it would alleviate most of my grief. What I discovered was I had just started down the path of grieving.
Five months later, I was back in Maui, by myself, in search of answers to help me deal with this huge hole in my life caused by Jacob’s death.
Jacob required 24 hour care due to his numerous medical issues. I never once begrudged a minute of this, as he gave joy in his every moment of life.
After 24 years of being sleep deprived, I now had way too much time on my hands. What would I do with the rest of my life?
One early morning, not being able to sleep, grieving horribly and having thoughts one should not think, I decided to go out to sit by the ocean and write. I hoped writing would help me make sense of it all. This was truly my lowest moment.
“God, please help me.” A butterfly landed on my writing tablet and sat there and sat there, sat there just staring at me, and then I heard a voice say, “You WILL be alright.”
The sun was starting to rise, I felt my black cloud lift into the sun, and Helen Keller’s words popped into my mind, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
“This is my story………….thru it I have learned what it means to carry someone else’s burden……………and also to be carried myself.
Ash Wednesday Stories |