By Melanie Baker Trimarco
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
~ 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)
Loss is a part of our earthly journey, and as difficult as it is, when we stay the course and fight the good fight, we can hope in the joy of heaven that awaits us all. The glorious promise of eternal life without suffering or pain, Jesus opened to all of us through His death and Resurrection.
I lost my husband in 2017 after a lengthy illness. I watched a strong, loving man become dependent on me and others to take care of him. As much as I wanted him the beat the odds and receive a miracle, God had other plans. What keeps me grounded is knowing, God willing, we will meet again and knowing he is no longer enduring the physical suffering from his illness.
He Fought…We Fought…I Fight
Mark had the best medical team and a loving family to support his fight. In the end, it was not about the fight or overcoming an illness. In the end, the suffering endured is minuscule in comparison to the imperishable crown of glory. Mark fought, prepared his heart, and trusted in Jesus.
I fight to keep perspective. I fight to endure a life without the man I loved. I fight my fight with Jesus by my side. I am blessed to have loved and to have been loved. I will honor our love until the day when I, too, finish the race—with my heart prepared to meet Jesus.
Obligation
As I type this, my sweet Aunt is entering her last days, and it reminds me that we have an obligation — yes, an obligation — is to live life to the fullest, have time with Jesus in prayer, and love big. The days, weeks, months, and years pass by too swiftly. In the end, what matters is the people you love and the God who loves you beyond measure.
Prayer
Jesus, walk alongside those who are mourning. Give each of us the strength and grace we need to live our lives to the fullest by stepping outside of ourselves to be Christ-like.
Call to Action
Reach out to those you love and let them know how much they mean to you. Reflect on what you feel called to do in this life and begin to plan how you might do it! Trust in Jesus to guide you.
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Melanie, this is just beautiful. Thank you for sharing with all of us, and may God continue to give you many blessings and graces!
Thank you for your kind words.
Thank you Melanie for this reflection. Your sharing brings strength to us all in all of our races…
God bless you.
Melanie, We buried my father last week, and used this passage and the song “Press on” by Kitty Cleveland at his funeral. It is such a beautiful song. I am so sorry for your untimely loss, and will keep you in my prayers. God Bless You.
Margie
I’m so sorry for the loss of your father, may he Rest In Peace. You’re in my prayers, too. God bless.
So much to say. I witnessed LOVE & Dedication that I had never experienced. How Melanie survived to help others made her one of God’s Worriors. The price was high.
We all know that Mark is always with us. As the tears of remembrance flow a Cardinal arrived on the bird feeder staring me down..
I told you he was always here.
Aww, sweet MIL. I love YOU! Mark was easy to love and care for.
Beautiful and inspiring, thank you for sharing Melanie. I lost my husband 10 years ago on Palm Sunday to an unexpected heart attack at age 48. God has provided so many blessings these 10 years including many women from WINE. If interested, I recommend listening to A Widows Rosary available at Apple ITunes, a free podcast or available as music for small fee. Was recorded by Relevant Radio. I wrote the meditations through inspiration of the Holy Spirit and they were approved by our Bishop. My pain was so deep those first few years I could hardly pray but I could listen to the rosary. Mother Mary’s mantle saved me. God bless you on your journey!