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Monday, July 17, 2017

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

I've a little embarrassed when I read about the pity party I had a few weeks ago when thinking of our anniversary.

It is still a few days until our anniversary and already it has been very special.

Last week Ed's brother and family insisted on coming to our house to stay with our six children so Ed and I could get away overnight. I think the last time we had went away overnight alone (if hospital stays don't count) was over two years ago. And that was to attend a conference.

Not only was it a treat to go away as a couple, it was super nice not to have to make babysitting arrangements - or even pack up clothes for the children - and they even brought all the meals. The list of how we have been supported and encouraged the past months is extremely long by now.

And the details fell together amazingly. I was shocked that we were able to get our favorite getaway cottage on a Friday night, only the day before. It was one of those times that we knew God had made the arrangements for us.

And Ed felt GREAT. I'm still shocked that after a month of chemo and radiation Ed felt like having a romantic night away.

We had a wonderful time and it felt like a huge gift.

I'll share photos when I get them off the camera, but for now I want to share a song whose words I can't sing without being moved. I've heard that these words were written during the author's time of personal suffering. There is so much rich meaning and depth to these words that I'm not even going to try to write a commentary but let you read them yourself.

It is so true that the life given to God becomes fuller and richer than we can ever imagine.

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
by George Matheson


  1. O Love that will not let me go,
    I rest my weary soul in thee;
    I give thee back the life I owe,
    That in thine ocean depths its flow
    May richer, fuller be.
  2. O Light that foll’west all my way,
    I yield my flick’ring torch to thee;
    My heart restores its borrowed ray,
    That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
    May brighter, fairer be.
  3. O Joy that seekest me through pain,
    I cannot close my heart to thee;
    I trace the rainbow through the rain,
    And feel the promise is not vain,
    That morn shall tearless be.
  4. O Cross that liftest up my head,
    I dare not ask to fly from thee;
    I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
    And from the ground there blossoms red
    Life that shall endless be.
  5. Listen to a men's choir sing these words. (If reading by email you may need to click over to the blog.)


16 comments:

  1. So glad you had a little getaway...we so need these times together, just the two of us.

    The hymn is breathtakingly beautiful. Made me weepy.

    Finally, do not be embarrassed by your times of sadness...they are perfectly normal. Love and prayers dear ones. Mindy

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  2. What a lovely gift your relatives gave you. So thrilled Ed felt well enough to go. What a treat!!!!
    Praying on...............

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  3. Such a lovely gift. I'm glad you got to go and so glad that Ed was feeling good. God is SO good.

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  4. Ah, that hymn is one of my favorites!

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  5. So glad you were able to make this beautiful memory. May God bless those who gave you that gift. We pray for you often in our Wednesday evening prayer meetings since Melvin and Rodney and Rachel are from your area.

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  6. I really appreciate your sharing and didn't consider that anything like a pity party! You're under no obligation to share like that, yet you do, and it's such an encouragement since it's hard to relate if someone seems to never have an anxious or down thought. Thank you, and I'm so glad you and Ed got to celebrate! (Thanks for including links to actually play the songs, too; they're beautiful.)

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  7. Oh Gina! I really love that hymn! It is one of my favorites. Praise God that Ed is feeling so great and that you two could get away for a bit. May your family continue to give God all the glory and honour.

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  8. I have not visited your blog for quite sometime so i was shocked to hear of Eds diagnosis.

    Im glad things are looking up and you guys had a great weekend away.. a little adult time is often needed to rejuvenate the soul and steady the ship

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  9. I am glad you had the opportunity to celebrate your anniversary. It's good to hear that Ed is feeling well. Thank you for sharing your journey. Christine

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  10. How wonderful that you and Ed were able to spend time at your favorite getaway cottage which is such a beautiful place! What a blessing that Ed is doing so well. Thank you for sharing the hym and know that your family continue to be in my daily prayers.

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  11. Happy Anniversary - what a blessing you were able to have a get away and Ed felt good.

    Wonderful hymn you shared, really enjoyed the Oasis Chorale. I had to go to youtube to enjoy a few more of their songs - thanks for sharing this encouragement! Love and hugs!

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  12. Do not worry about feeling sad about things its perfectly normal, we all understand. Happy anniversary. What a blessing being able to get away together. Keeping you all in prayer.Sue x

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  13. What a special hug from God that you were able to get your favorite get away spot on such short notice! So glad you were blessed to savor some time away...the two of you! Love & continued prayers, Randy & Eunice

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  14. I felt so glad for you that you were able to do this, it brought tears to my eyes. What wonderful support you have. -Beth

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  15. Gina, you do not need to be embarrassed by your feelings, or even for expressing them. You are human, and God made you with emotions. It helps me to see how people in your situation feel, and it probably encourages others in the same situation that they are normal, too! So glad that God is blessing you with a loving family and brotherhood!

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