A Memory Redeemed

It was there in the background, each and every one of us remembering - none of us wanting to talk about it - to remember.  The last time we were meant to be together, celebrating years of friendship - through many seasons of life - that was the day that changed everything.

July 22, 2015 - a day that was like many other summer days.  We knew that something wasn't right with Jonah's health, but we were working out a plan. In the meantime, Simon was at work, the kids  had swim lessons and pool time and Simon's high school buddies and their families were coming to dinner.  Although the Andrewses and Hamiltons live nearby, we never see them enough, so having the Vorels in from out of town was a excuse to get together.  After a late location change, we were hosting the gathering and couldn't wait for everyone to arrive.  This is of course, the afternoon that Jonah started talking in "world salad" - stringing words together that don't relate.  The word salad led to an urgent doctors appointment which led to an MRI.  By the time we got to the pediatrician's office though, Jonah was coherent again, so I wasn't too worried. (In retrospect, the fact the pedi had me come straight in without an appointment and then almost insisted on a same day MRI should have been big warning signs, but who expects cancer?) I called Simon at work to give him a heads up regarding the MRI.  He offered to meet us at the hospital, but I told him to finish his day at work and then go home to meet our friends - I figured Jonah and I would be shortly behind him.  Simon couldn't stand the thought of not coming to the hospital though and was quickly on his way.  We intentionally waited though - waiting until it was too late to reschedule or relocate, before we told our friends that we'd be a little late and they should start without us.  A little medical hiccup shouldn't interfere with our time together.  And so, family by family they showed up - caught up with each other, watched the kids run around full of life and snacked - waiting for their hosts to arrive with an "all clear".  But then - there was a mass on the MRI, there was the walk to the Lurie satellite ED to stabilize, there was the ambulance ride to Lurie to verify everyone's worst fears.  And the party turned to prayer as Simon dashed home to pack a bag, friends mobilized to get the van, now stranded at the hospital.  Everyone waited to see what would happen next.

Fast-forward to December 22, 2016 - the Vorels are in town again, and being geographically in the middle of the Andrews and Hamiltons makes it ideal for us to host again.  And so family by family, they show up.  We catch up with each other, we watch the kids run around full of life and we snack.  But we also celebrate.  We celebrate life and the many ways that God has blessed each of us in the last 18 months - there are new family members, new houses, new business ideas floating around, renewed commitment to health.  There are accomplishments both big and small, there are character defining moments that we have all lived through that have cemented more of who God is shaping us each to be.  In this celebration of together, we are able to redeem the hard memories that we don't want to linger in of our last attempt at together.  We can see that we truly are learning to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15).

And by looking back together, by acknowledging that we all hold a thread of the same life-changing moment, we are able to more fully celebrate together all that God has done.  This time when we gather, we rejoice - Jonah is with us - playing, laughing, talking and joking.  Because, after the mourning of July, the celebration of December is all the sweeter.