The Road Ahead

The Road Ahead

photo credit




Behold I will do a new thing
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.

- Isaiah 43:19

We celebrated the first anniversary of Ernie's homegoing this evening at his sister Suzette's lovely home.


Around 60 family members, close friends from church, and a number Ernie's colleagues at the university where he was a member of the board of regents and a former vice-president, were invited.


We began with singing a few of Ernie's favorite hymns like Take My Life and Blessed Assurance, and Ron Kenoly's Resound in Praise, and reading some passages from the Bible.


The people present, and many others who could not be with us tonight (Ernie's brother and his family, as well as my only sister and her family, who live in the United States), all had a special part in our family's journey the past twelve months. In one way or another, they proved to be our support system during our time of grief.


Several of us shared memories and testimonies of how God proved himself faithful and true during the months that we felt the pain of Ernie's absence.


"I am proud of my brother," Leila, Ernie's youngest sister said. "I am proud of the legacy of kindness and generosity that he has left behind...I will surely miss him."


My friend Ruby said that one of the many things she wants to thank God for this year is seeing how Ernie's first born son grew and matured before her very eyes.


"I have seen First Born become a responsible husband and father," Ruby shared with tears in her eyes. "Ernie was the wind beneath his family's wings... and even if it caused us much sadness when his earthly life ended, I can rejoice as I see his First Born rise up and become his own person."


Suzette, Ernie's other sister said, "In the last phone conversation I had with him two days before he passed away, he told me, 'If there is one thing I want you to remember, it is to forgive, to let go, and to accept. Let reconciliation begin with you.'"


Because they were her brother's last words to her, Suzette took that message to heart.


She said, "And today, I stand here before you as a woman in the process of being healed, because I am learning how to forgive."


"There has to be forgiveness before there can be healing," Suzette said softly as she ended. "But it had to take the death of my dear brother for that to come about in my life."


A few others also stood up to share what was on their heart.


There were tears in our eyes as we listened to Roselyn sing Wind Beneath my Wings and as we watched the beautiful video presentation which portrayed the different seasons of Ernie's life.

Here are some pictures:

Ernie's 61st birthday, November 2007
Khum Kantoke, Chiang Mai Thailand

In front of Maejo University November 2007
Chiang Mai, Thailand

On our way to spend a day at the city
August 2008, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Ernie at Haggai Leadership Institute
July 2008, Maui, Hawaii

Eating Thai noodles, September 2008
Chiang Mai, Thailand

After a farewell lunch for us, September 2008
Mae Rim, Chiang Mai, Thailand

"Three Generations" (with Matthew, seven days old)
Ernie, First Born, and Matthew, October 27, 2008
Bacolod City

Ernie's 62nd birthday, November 2008
Bacolod City

Welcome dinner for us given by church friends

November 2008, Bacolod CIty

At Maejo University
August 2008, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Ernie's Casket
November 2008


Cadets saluting as funeral limousine passes by on its way to burial site
November 2008

Twelve months after Ernie's passing away, we - his family and friends - paid a fitting tribute to a man who impacted many not only in his life, but even in his death.


But more than anything else, I want this day to mark the end of a season. I want it to be remembered as the physical closure to our grieving period.


There is a sense in which the grieving never really ends, but it is also true that there comes a point when mourning turns to dancing, and sorrow turns to joy.


God is doing a new thing, and I certainly don't want to miss it.


To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.


He has made everything beautiful in His time.


How this has proven to be true in my life!


Herein lies the power of the resurrection of Jesus. What the enemy has intended as an end, God has caused to be a powerful messenger of hope and new beginnings!

He has made all things beautiful in His time.

This is God's message to my heart today, the first anniversary of my husband's homegoing.

I know my Father holds the seasons of my life in his hands; the timing of Ernie's going home to heaven to fall on the week of Thanksgiving is not a coincidence.


Nothing in this life is a matter of coincidence.


God ordains...orchestrates...allows.


Everything is a test...an opportunity...a choice!


What the enemy means for evil, God can turn to good.



There is a road ahead...


My Father provides bread for the journey,


splashes of joy at strategic places;


heaven's melody fills the air,


God meets me at every turn!

Thank God! there is always a Land of Beyond
For us who are true to the trail;
A vision to seek, a beckoning peak...

(from The Land of Beyond, by Robert W. Service)

This macro shot of my stargazer lily was taken at 5:52 a.m. this morning. It's incredible how this plant has become God's messenger of hope to me this past year!

Thank You, my Father. Thank You for always finding a way to speak hope to me. Thank You! I just can't thank you enough.

I want to end this post with this psalm of praise, penned by David:

¹ I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.

² Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.

⁴ One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.

⁵ They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

⁶ They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.

⁷ They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

⁸ The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹ The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.

¹⁰ All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your saints will extol you.

¹¹ They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,

¹² so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made.

¹⁴ The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.

¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.

¹⁶ You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.

¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.

²⁰ The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

Maejo University Gate
Chiang Mai, Thailand