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作者是 Diana
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週四, 26 一月 2012 13:46 |
| | | 一場生命中的”延長賽”
| | | | | | Dear All, 1-25-2012
在兩個多月前，三十年前LA洛福教會社青團契的契友們，為劉哥辦了一次大團聚，會中好友陳隆弟兄講了一個”延長賽”(有人稱加時賽)的真實故事，延長賽的特點是沒有時間限制，任何時候只要有一方先突破僵局，就結束！而我們這次與病魔的戰役，經歷了幾次的生命終點，昏迷中劉哥在我們大聲告訴他今年將要作祖父了的喜訊中醒過來，如今帶著諸多複雜的病情，重新面對人生，正像是進入了一場生命中的”延長賽”，雖然每一天都有可能是終點，但我們知道生命在神手中，也因此更加珍惜分分秒秒，翱翔於探索神所賜的喜悅與痛苦之間，每一天，我們有劉哥在身邊，為此必須獻上虔敬的感恩！
現在的劉哥是藉著身上的三條管子在維生，右胸一條通到心臟右邊的大靜脈，是洗腎用的，一星期三次；左胸一條通到心臟左邊的大靜脈，是二十四小時注射營養用的(劉哥從醫院回來至今都還未曾進食，也在學習走路，請為此代禱)，一天要換一袋3000cc的營養劑(醫院有派護士來訓練我們操作)；腹部一條管子是從前腹膜洗腎用的，現在雖然洗血，管子卻不能拿掉，要用來排出腹水，一天要漏出3500cc，否則腹脹難忍‧這三條管子每用一次，都是極大的挑戰，因為以劉哥的體力及扺抗力來說，是經不起任何感染的‧我這樣的說明是希望大家能對我們一再拒絕訪客的事，有一些些的諒解，因為直到如今仍有朋友不斷不斷的要求探望，我們一家六口，還有義子David(在醫藥方面的幫忙)，每天步步為營，忙成一團，加上怕外界細菌帶入，接待訪客，對我們來說實在有一些難言之苦‧
兩個兒子為了能有更多的時間與父親在一起，在我的要求下，離開了苦讀多年，事業才稍有成就的法律界(又有朋友說我瘋了)，來幫助我經營樂器生意，也一起來輪流照顧生病的劉哥‧這些日子，兩個高大英拔的兒子，如此謙卑溫順的服事父親，從最卑微的清洗，到極用體力的復健工作，不厭其煩的長途送載洗腎(現在又轉回Monterey Park的洗腎中心)，看到在這些事上，他們的學問知識全派不上用場，卻作的如此認真誠懇，作母親的我也被感動了；兩個嬌小可人的媳婦，如此善解人意，毫無怨言，常常為我準備食物，噓寒問暖，更重要的還不只是這些，她們對我們的尊重及禮遇，使我深深的相信比起世上太多”窮的只剩下健康” 的人，劉哥是富有的！
除非有緊急事故，我將不再定期發代禱信，有時間我將回覆一些你們的e-mail，你們在禱告中，請一定一定要記得在這個世界的某一個角落，有一個家庭，正全力以赴的在呵護照顧著他們所愛的人，有時很辛苦；有時很忙碌；有時也有無奈；有時感到孤單；有時體會到縱使盡了己力，自己所能付出的愛仍是那麼膚淺，但因為劉哥的軟弱，我們照顧他的人學習彼此更相愛好讓他放心，因為有愛 所以不論失去什麼我們都還是充滿希望‧我一再告訴自己過程比結果更重要，最要緊的任務是陪伴，我們還能一起努力些什麼呢？從這裡也看到家人和諧共處的美，每一次一家人一起禱告時，神就將出人意外的平安賞賜給我們，祂是如此的信實可靠！再次的我要說，不要為我們哭泣，要為我們禱告，我跟孩子們都相信這是神所定的日子，我們要和劉哥一起靠主堅強渡過，劉哥每一點的進步，就是我們歡樂的泉源，我們試著跨越生命的有限，晉身更深廣、更美，超乎一般人所思所想的境界，好在逆境中辨識出那稱作”愛”的神‧我也相信對兩個兒子來說，這日子是他們一生中一段震撼的生命教育時期，我要他們在學習付出之際，感受生命的溫暖及神的可信性，將來若有機會回去本行時，他們將會是法律界不一樣的人才‧也盼望他們的所作所為能拋磚引玉，使更多的ABC孩子，懂得承傳一些中國的孝道美德‧
好了，我們的故事寫到這裡，有一天，你也許會忽然又看到劉哥出現在你眼前，有一天也許有人告訴你說劉哥去世了，套用一句名佈道家葛里翰牧師曾說過的一句話 ” 某一天也許有人會告訴你說葛里翰牧師(劉哥)死了，你不要相信他們說的，因為他如今比以前活的更真實，他只是換了一個地址，他已永遠的進入神的榮美同在中了！”是的，就用劉哥一開始發現絕症時說的那句話作為結束吧……無論是生，是死，都要為了榮耀神而活！
附上一張近照，劉哥問好大家！
Love,
Diana
Dear all, 1-25-2012
About two months ago, our friends from EFCLA Young Adult Fellowship 30 years ago organized a reunion on behalf of Oliver. There, our good friend Long Chen said that one characteristic of “overtime” in certain sport is that play will go on as long as the match continues to be a tie, but as soon as one team breaks the deadlock, the game is over. Several times we faced the end of life during the recent battle with Oliver’s illness, but he woke up from coma as we announced to him the good news of becoming a grandfather. Now that he faces life again, with a number of complex conditions, it is like he enters a life of “overtime”, each day could be his last. Nevertheless, we know that life is in God’s hand, we thus cherish every minute, exploring life amidst the gift of joy and the burden of pain. Daily we thank God from the bottom of our hearts that Oliver is still here with us!
At present, Oliver lives by three tubes. One, through the right chest to a large vein at the right side of the heart, it is used for dialysis three times a week; on his left chest, there is another tube going to a large vein at the left side of the heart for injection of nutrients around-the-clock (Oliver has not eaten any food since being discharged from the hospital, and learning to walk, please remember this particular problem in your prayer), each day he needs a bag of 3000cc nutrients (we are trained to change the bags by nurses sent by the hospital); the last is a tube going through the abdomen to discharge ascites, 3500cc daily, otherwise, the bloating will become unbearable. It is a great challenge using any of the tubes each time, because Oliver’s condition cannot afford to risk acquiring any infection. This is also the reason that we continue to decline requests of visitation from many of you, not only because our family of six and “God son” David (helping in medical area) have been very busy in caring for Oliver, we also want to eliminate the chance of having germs/bacteria from outside of home. Please understand that we really do not have the capacity to receive visitors now.
At my request, our two sons have decided to leave their legal profession, which they had studied and worked very hard for many years, so that they may have more time together with their father, to take turns to care for him and to help me operate our instrument business (some must think I am crazy). These days, our tall and handsome sons serve their father with humility and gentleness, from the most humbling work of washing/cleaning him to the very strenuous physical rehabilitation work, as well as driving him long distance(Monterey Park) to dialysis center regularly, we find no word of complaint or sign of impatience in them. As their mother, I am very much touched to see that, although their professional knowledge is of no use in what they are doing for their father, they take what they do seriously and with sincerity. Our two lovely daughters-in-law are also very thoughtful and considerate, so understanding without any complaints, they often prepare food for me and inquire about my wellbeing. More importantly, their respect and courtesy toward us make me feel that, comparing to those who are poor in all other aspects besides health, Oliver is truly rich.
Unless there is an emergency, I will not regularly send you update any more. When I have time, I will reply some of your emails. When you pray, please remember that somewhere in the world, there is a family doing their best to care for their loved one, sometimes very hard; sometimes very busy; sometimes feeling powerless; sometimes feeling lonely. Sometimes I do realize that though we do our best, the love we are able to give is still very superficial; but because Oliver is so weak, we, who are caring for him, learn to be even more loving toward one another so that he will be at ease; and because of love, we are still full of hope no matter what our losses are. I told myself again and again that the process is more important than the result, that the most important is the companionship, what else can we do? In it, we see the beauty of family harmony. Every time we pray together, we experience the surpassing peace from God; He is so faithful and trustworthy! Again I say, do not cry for us, but please pray for us. Our children and I believe these days are destined by God for us. Together with Oliver, we will live with strength from the Lord, and we will rejoice in Oliver’s every little progress. We will try to step outside the limitation of life to live a life that is in a wider and deeper state, which is more beautiful and beyond our ordinary thinking, so that, in our adversity, we may see God, who is called “Love”. I also believe that for our sons, these days will be an education period that shakes and transforms their life. I want them to experience the tenderness of life and God’s trustworthiness while they learn to give, so that when they are back to their legal profession in the future, they will be a distinct type in the sphere of the legal world. I also hope that what they have done for their father will set an example for our American-born-Chinese to learn the great Chinese heritage of filial piety.
Well, I will end our story here. Someday, maybe you will be surprised to see Oliver right before you, or maybe you will hear from someone that Oliver is dead. Here I want to share with you a quote from the famed evangelist Billy Graham: “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham (Brother Liu) is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! He shall be more alive then than He is now. He will just have changed his address. He will have gone into the presence of God.” Yes, I will end this update with what Oliver said when he was first found to have cancer… To glorify God with our life whether in life or in death!
Attached please find one Oliver’s recent photo. He sends his greetings to you all.
Love,
Diana | | | | | | | | |
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最近更新在 週四, 26 一月 2012 13:55 |
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