The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

Karen had a great sense of humor. I don’t know that I could prove this from Scripture, but somehow I wouldn’t be surprised if Karen still has a great sense of humor. She was always teasing me or sharing something that was cute or funny. I often replied, “Karen! You are quite a character,” and we would laugh together.

During one of her Ladies’ retreats, she spoke to the ladies about character. She reminded them that in a good sense, they ought to be quite the characters!

I’ve written several editions of “Karen’s Notes” from a particular Ladies’ Retreat. She apparently opened this first session asking the ladies to share several of God’s attributes. She wanted to help them refocus from the cares and concerns of back home to Who God is and how this knowledge of Him would profoundly affect their lives. She actually wanted to help the ladies grow in their reverence and fear of the Lord.

My dear Karen knew that she was the most unlikely candidate in the entire world for Stage IV lung cancer. But since she had it, she was going to use it. She spoke to me of the Lord’s comfort and that now she had a new mission field to share with others how they could also have this comfort.

Every day presented opportunities to intentionally choose to trust and from that came gentle, sweet joy. It can be true for us as well if we know Christ as our Savior and trust Him even in the hard times.

I’ve shared this note before. However there are many folks that have just started reading “Karen’s Notes.” Even to those of us who read this little saying before, it is well worth considering again. Please let me briefly give you just a little background before I share the handwritten note.