My granddaughter - Indigo - comes over to our house most Sundays after church. She always asks. We always say yes! We have lunch - usually - noodles with butter - or grilled cheese - fresh red peppers - ice cream! We play games - skippo - quix - are the favourites right now. During the games, Indy likes to use Spotify and play her favourite songs. We go for a walk to the park or on the beach to the Boiler. We often watch a movie together - I nap a little bit! Then it’s time to go home.

A few weeks ago while we were out for our walk, somehow the conversation came around to when Indigo gets married - I told her I want to dance at her wedding. She quipped back quite quickly that “I’d probably be dead” (when she got married)! Smartiepants. That quip led to a conversation and I told Indigo that I want the song - THE GOODNESS OF GOD - sung by CC Winans played at my funeral. You know the time in the service when they scroll the pictures of your life? That song with the pictures!

I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

'Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father
I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah

'Cause all my life You have been faithful, oh yes You have
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I’ve seen God’s faithfulness all my life - just like the song says. I know how trustworthy God has been. How dependable He’s been. He’s always been the fourth Man in the fire. In the dark hours of the night - He’s been my comfort. How do I know these things? I’ve experienced it. Firsthand.

Randy and I graduated from Tyndale Bible College and Seminary in April, 1980. We began our local church ministry in September of the same year in Orillia, Ontario. Our senior pastor was Bud Hooper and his wife, Diane, and they were the most amazing senior pastor and wife to begin our ministry under. We learned so much from them - how to love our people - how to care for them - how to be gracious under stress - how to trust.

Randy’s salary wasn’t huge and early in our ministry there, I was soon expecting our first child. I didn’t work outside the home, so we depended solely on Randy’s income. We didn’t make a lot of money.

So, how did we experience God’s faithfulness? We got paid once a month - and most months - there was more month than money. By the fourth week of the month - we would have little left for groceries - so - I would pray that we would be invited out for supper or lunch or even breakfast - and - without a doubt - our calendar would fill up with invitations from our church members. Another example of God’s provision and faithfulness? In November of 1981, when I was 7 months pregnant with Zac, a delivery truck showed up in our driveway. A young man came to the door and informed me he was delivering a washing machine and a dryer! (I had been taking our clothes to the laundry mat). Someone in our church knew this and bought these two new machines so I wouldn’t have to lug our dirty clothes and soon - new baby - to the laundry mat! That washer and dryer lasted 25 years. To this day I don’t know who God asked to buy that for us. What an enormous blessing that was to us. One more example comes to mind! A doctor’s wife in our church (still in Orillia) took me under her wing……and each and every spring and fall……for several years - would take me shopping for new clothes. She would hand me $500. cash and help me find things that suited me. She knew I needed to attend events with Randy and didn’t have the clothes to wear. I’ll never forget her generosity and her obedience to God’s prompting to bless me. I was more than grateful.

It wasn’t just material blessings though! Many times we received encouraging notes and letters from our church. They encouraged us to keep relying on God’s faithfulness even during difficult times - to trust God always even in the storms of life - to have unshakeable confidence in God even when the world and our culture seemed to waver.

We saw God’s faithfulness when our kids were sick…..and we trusted in the Great Physician for healing…..when our hearts tugged at us to call the doctor - not to delay. Once when Ben was just past two, he was sick for a few days……fever, stomach upset, not eating or drinking much. It was the summer time. I took him to Emergency and after running a few tests, they told me he didn’t have an infection - he would be himself in a day or two. Two days would pass and he wasn’t himself. I took him back to the hospital and this time the doctor didn’t send us home. Ben was admitted for dehydration. He needed “intravenous” for a couple of days before he was himself again. Zac developed asthma as a young boy and more than once we made a trip to the hospital - it seemed - in the middle of the night. When Zac was about 7 or 8 we were referred to a special in London and Dr. Ecklestone and his team made a tremendous difference in Zac’s fight with asthma. He often called me to check in on Zac.

Our church here in Kincardine is doing a series this summer on the fruit of the Spirit. Our pastor has challenged us each Sunday with this thought - “the fruit of the Spirit should be the characteristics of Christians because the fruit are the character of God.” Things like - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and then, this past week - faithfulness.

I never imagined that Randy would die in his 50’s. I never imagined I would be a widow at 56! I never imagined I would meet someone new! I never imagined I would remarry! I never imagined I would move to Kincardine! I never imagined I would add bonus children and grandchildren to my life. I didn’t imagine any of these things but they all happened and through each stage - God remained faithful to me. Isaiah 26:3 - (My Mom’s favourite verse) says: “You will keep her in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You.”

I don’t know what the future holds but I know Who holds my future. And so - Indy - I may or may not be around in twenty years to dance at your wedding - but I might be - I hope I am - I pray I am. But if I’m not - remember to play the song at my service! Remember our conversation! It’s my testimony. It’s my song! It’s my truth.