Page 2 - GraceMail November 2021

Dear Forever Family
I’m sat by the patio door, looking out at mostly blue sky, but with cold hands. Over the weekend there were high winds, and lots of rain. And the neighbours have been out scooping up heaps of fallen leaves. The weather has been so changeable, as it often is at this time of year. Some things don’t really change, and yet many others do.
One of the most obvious signs of this is the COP26 conference happening in Glasgow, as 200 countries try to commit to the kind of planet care that God called us to in the first place.
Another change, which I (Lynne) hope is temporary, is that I’ve been on sick leave, and will remain so for the rest of this year, and perhaps into the first few weeks of next year. I heard I had cancer, and needed surgery, on September 1st, and on November the 1st I went for my preliminary appointment with the radiotherapy team at Queens Centre, Castle Hill, ahead of 5 weeks of radiotherapy, plus three more treatments of a different kind.
I’ve often said, over the years, just like Jesus once said, you do not know what a day will bring. And we really didn’t see this coming. My mind flits to these two contrasting thoughts...
Both of these responses require a choice in the face of something that feels difficult or unfair. I take comfort from the words of Jesus: In this world you will have trouble, but I give you my peace. (John 16:33) That is a truth for us all to lean on, no matter what we’re facing. It’s the Jesus way of dealing with life, to travel with Him through it all, and to trust that He has got this, even this, and will continue to work things for our good, whatever that may look like.
Every blessing,
Lynne and Darren.
2. Grace Mail