Friday, 24 April 2009

• A prayer request & loving memory

  My mom's side of the family has a private family website for everyone to stay connected through. My Uncle Craig (Jakki's husband) recently posted this picture of my aunt in 2008 running what would be one of her last marathon's as she died this past Easter Sunday in a boating accident. My Aunt Jakki (age 44) was a fitness trainer and opened up a YMCA in the area she lived in. Without doubt I know her life touched countless others! I can just see her encouraging and pushing others (in a good way!) with her usual determination to better themselves. In reference to her mom, one of the first things my cousin Tiffany said to me through her tears was, "I thought she was going to out live me." My Aunt Jakki's death was a startling reminder of how life can be unexpectedly taken in a flash. She shall surely be missed in our family. I am asking my friends to lift up my cousins, Tiffany, Marc, and Richard in their prayers during this very difficult time of having just lost their mom as well as for my Uncle Craig.

  I like this picture of my Aunt Jakki. I can't help but want to share the Bible verses I love about running this race of life with endurance for Christ and running as to get the prize that is Heaven with God - a prize more glorious than anyone can even BEGIN TO IMAGINE!
  As it is written:
  
  
  "no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
     nor the heart of man imagined,
  what God has prepared for those who love him"  - 1 Corinthians 2:9

  I'll say these verses about "running" sure encourage me! God wants us to have our eyes set on the prize.
  
  Hebrews 12:1-2
  ^"1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and  let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." 

  1 Corinthians 9:24
  ^"24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. ²⁵Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. ²⁷But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

  
  While I remember my Aunt Jakki,
  I pray that her death would make others pause and think
  about the end of their own race and ask themselves if they are running
  for a perishable prize or imperishable prize...
  if they are running for God or running away from God,
  for these are important questions. 

  

  She will be missed!

     
  This picture is from our last family reunion in 2007. My Aunt Jakki is third in from the bottom right. We are especially lifting my Uncle Craig, Tiffany, Marc, and Richard (who is not in the picture) in our prayers. 
  

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