Finding Hope Because of God - The Gift of Christ

by: Martha Matthews

In past year and a half, I have lost the ability to do many things that I took for granted and never in my wildest dreams expected to lose. I can no longer walk, garden, swim, take care of my house and dog, cook and fix food for myself, bathe and dress myself, do the laundry, visit friends’ homes, drive a car, make art, draw, sew, weave, paint, or sleep in my own bed. I have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. There is no cure or treatment. I will gradually become paralyzed and lose the ability to speak, swallow and breathe. It has been a time of great struggle on many levels and will continue to be until I die.

But the most amazing thing has happened. God is with me!

Jesus struggled as we all do but more so because he carried the burden of all our sins. He faced His human aspects--temptations, possible failure of his mission, physical frailty --as he faced what God had sent him to do. But he was the Son of God sent in human form with a divine mission. He died on the cross for all our sins so that we may be forgiven and have everlasting life with God.

Every Sunday we ask for forgiveness and every Sunday, without fail, we are assured that we are forgiven. Forgiveness and salvation- this is the Good News that Christ’s life and death on the cross has given to us all. It is the bedrock of our faith. It is an incredibly huge gift given to us by grace alone. Often we fear we are not worthy and turn our backs on this gift but it is there for us with no conditions or strings attached. When I was told I had ALS I fully accepted this gift. I am amazed every day to have God with me, surrounding me, holding me up, helping me cope with the ever increasing bad news of my body’s demise.

Letting go and giving up control is really hard but I have had no choice. Yet God is there for me even in the moments when I emotionally fall apart. He surrounds me with his love and his hands reach out and hold me up.

It totally blows me away!

Often his hands are old friends, new friends and strangers who come to help me. His grace is in the sunshine streaming through my windows, the view of the trees and my untended garden filled with Lenten roses and, when I can get there, sitting in the sanctuary at Covenant surrounded by my church friends. But most of all it is the assurance that death will be a release into his everlasting love and grace, into the arms of God.

I have no fear of death “even as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” Actually I fear more what I must go through in this life than I fear dying. I pray every day that He will remain with me and give me peace and grace as I go on this hard journey.

I have heard the promise and the promise is Easter. It is there for all of us.