Mon Apr 27 07:56 EDT 1998
April 25-26: Anniversaries

On Saturday, my nephew, his wife, and a couple of other guests arrived
to prevent me from doing any work around the house and grounds.  For
this, I am grateful.  Tom and Erin are making preparations to move to
Yale where Tom will work on putting letters before and after his name.
It was good for them to visit with us.  They even humored this uncle
by staying opn Sunday to hear my Sunday School lesson on marriage.

Saturday was also the anniversary of my mother-in-law's birth; she
would have been 70.  Millie Crawford passed away last year on April 30
just after turning 69.  Joy called her dad and they had a good long
talk.

Memories are both a blessing and painful; they remind us of the
fulfillment that a person brings into our lives.  In this weekend
update, I want to include a poem my father read at one of the funerals
he performed.  He didn't write it, and neither did Millie, but it may
"express how it is when we die in the faith:"

	When I'm gone remember me, I'm with Jesus.
	Then do not mourn because I've passed away.
	Life holds so many griefs and disappointments,
	And will you cry because I didn't stay?

	'Tis for a spell we must part;
	Not many years on earth to us is given,
	And when my Savior tells me you are coming
	I'll go with Him to welcome you to heaven.

	Grieve not because the eyes that looked upon you
	Shall never see your face again on earth.
	Rejoice because they look upon the Savior,
	Who gave His life to ransom sinful men;

	Weep not because I walk no longer with you,
	Remember I'm walking streets of gold.
	Weep for yourselves, that you must tarry
	Before the blessed Lord you may behold.

Anniversaries bring the memories closer to home, making them all the
more precious and all the more painful as it reminds us of what *we*
have lost.  I miss my mother-in-law - what a great woman!  I remember
her with joy and gladness that I was included in her life.  And I am
glad for the memories I'll keep of her!

Time is a precious currency, and the only real capital we have to
spend on each other.

Mark
  ,          Mark Metcalfe  ,d88b.d88b,  O love that will not let me go
  \_0__,    (978) 446-6451  88888888888   I rest my weary soul in Thee
    M                       `Y8888888Y'  I give Thee back the life I owe
   .|\. metcalfe@cadence.com  `Y888Y'   That in Thine ocean depths its
  Cadence Design Systems, Inc.  `Y'   flow may richer, fuller be.