One year ago today, April 8, 2021, our precious son-in-law, Mark Alan Rush, met Jesus face to face. As Paul and I were talking about this past year we said it seems like yesterday, and then again, it seems so long ago that Mark was sitting in his office at the ranch so full of life, loving his family, loving the ministry God called him to, and just enjoying life in general.
Everyone who was involved in Mark’s life looks at this past year a little differently. His parents, siblings, wife, his girls, sons-in-law, grandson, in-laws and friends, we all have different feelings and longings. Longing to just have another day to talk to him and listen to his witty sayings….. feeling like we want to hug him and tell him how much he meant to us. Yet, there’s not one of us who would wish him back. He’s Home. He’s where we are headed someday.
Paul made a short video of our family vacations and sent them to me this week. We, the eight of us, Mark and Gretchen, Paul Edward and Melanie, Thom and Kelley and Paul and I had so many wonderful times together. Paul and I began making it a must to have this time with our married children. We have had some of the most precious times. Our first ‘vacation’ together was at Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas in 1995. Oh, the memories there are unforgettable. Hawaii, Mexico, North Carolina, Arizona, Montana, Nevada and a few mini vacations in Texas hold so many cherished memories in our hearts. We loved being together.
Now, through the years we had our family squabbles and some intense moments of fellowship, but we always made things right. We never ‘held on’ to anger. We worked though our difficulties. We didn’t dissolve family because we disagreed with each other. As Christians, we knew we had the ability to forgive anything. We have the Holy Spirit living inside us. He gives us the power to make right choices. We loved family more than we loved our own way. We were never afraid to ask for forgiveness or give forgiveness.
Our desire is to leave a legacy for our grandchildren and great grandchildren: Faith, hope, love and forgiveness!
“And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Cor. 13:13
It would help us all to read the second chapter of Philippians every day. This one verse is worth memorizing. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippiians 2:3
In 1 Corinthians 13 we read what love really is according to the Lord. It’s not a mushy emotional love, but it is a giving, sacrificing love…putting others before ourselves love.
Love doesn’t boast. It doesn’t harbor foolish pride, it’s not jealous or resentful inside, love is not arrogant or rude in any way, love won’t insist upon its own way. It doesn’t matter how eloquent you are. It doesn’t matter about your prophetic powers. It doesn’t matter how many ‘gifts’ you manifest. It matters not that you give more money or time than anyone else. You can even give your body to be burned, but if you don’t love the way God says to love, it’s useless. Love never fails!
Mark loved this way. No, he wasn’t perfect, but he loved the Lord, his family and he loved people. We have a missing link in our family, but we will keep moving forward. That’s what he would want, especially for Gretchen and his girls.
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