Widow's Story: Miriam Neff

Dear Reader,
If you click on Monday archives on this blog you'll find a radio interview with Miriam Neff that is extremely helpful. I hope you take a few minutes to listen if you haven't already. Just go back to the Monday Labels in the right column and see the May 24 entry. You'll easily find the link.

Today we pick up in the middle of Miriam's personal life story, at the empty nest stage, just as she's begun travelling world-wide with her husband to help Christian radio stations. These few paragraphs are off her website, which I'll feature tomorrow, and you'll find the link to the rest of her story below.

* Miriam Neff *

"God, however, allowed the unexpected to intervene. With a fall in June of 2003, Bob dislocated his shoulder and embarked on a season of tests to determine what was going on in his body. Eventually he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a wicked disease that has no treatment or cure.

While is would seem that this disease, commonly known as Lou Gehrigs’ disease would dictate the last season of his life and limit Bob in fulfilling his calling, this was simply not true. While the disease followed its typical progression, Bob never ‘succumbed’ to the illness.

He continued to work as long as he could and never missed a grandson’s basketball game.

Literally hundreds of people come to our home during that season and left encouraged, The impact of his smile of contentment, his words of strength and faith charged the rooms he entered and the hearts of those there.

Yes, there were moments of humor, times of confusion on my part, and questions.

“How did you get through it,” I have been asked.

Let me describe one source of strength. Put simply, I observed Bob being the Bob I knew and loved: rock solid in his faith, reassuring me of his love, and full of gratitude for every moment he lived.

What does faith look like when you’ve heard that you have an untreatable, incurable disease?"

***

Click here for the rest of the story. You'll be so glad you did!

On Wednesdays we share stories of widows, a different one each week. They might be from the Bible, from history, from the news headlines or maybe even from you! Your “ordinary” story will be told here to others who will understand how “extraordinary” it truly is, so please tell us about yourself. Just email me at wcplace@gmail.com It’s easy. Your friends, family, and someday maybe your children will want to read it, too, so it’s a great way to preserve it for them. ♥ ferree