We are really just at the beginning of this transplant journey and it is still very possible for things to move in a less that desirable way, but the journey so far has been a joyful one.
You, our family, friends and even caring strangers, have been with us the entire way with your prayers and words of encouragement. I am not sure you all realize how much Karen and I rely on your written words. We regularly try to keep you informed of the details and more than that, we regularly check for new comments from you. You have sustained us and been the emotional bridge girders that have spanned many dark chasms along our path. It has been your poems, scripture quotes and personal reflections that have acted as bright torches held high to light our paths. Many ditches of doubt and mudslides of fear and panic have been avoided by us because of your diligent and timely truths shedding light in the darkness. We have been spared hurt and injury because of your care and affection and transparency. Please, keep it up, we cannot make this journey without you.
There are two very specific people I want to thank. While all of you have played your roles with excellence, Karen and I feel a special indebtedness to my parents, Doug and Grace. They are always a welcome presence in any of our family difficulties. They have traveled thousands of miles to be with their children and grandchildren and driven hour after hour to be available for us. As soon as word gets put about a need or an issue, my parents make arrangements for work and personal plans and they get on the road, regardless of the time of day. They are always willing and joyful to fill any capacity needed.
Karen and I are not just thankful for their willingness to travel but for their God-given gift of the “ministry of presence.” My parents are incredible at support. They know when to be quiet, they know when to talk. They perceive when they are needed to leave and when they need to just hang around for a while with no particular job. I have watched them be the relentless protection hounds when one of us was unable to defend ourselves from the system. I have seen them challenge the medical world with gracious ferocity when the defenseless are taken advantage of. They are quick to spend money or to prepare a meal or run an errand. They are the best at just holding your hand and crying with you until the pain passes.
From 10:30pm to 2:30am I had no working pain medicine after my surgery on Thursday. My dad and mom sat with Karen and I till the meds came and quietly massaged my feet and legs and hands. They brought words of comfort and prayers of healing and never once mentioned their fatigue from working a full day, then driving 5 hours, then staying up till 3am.
Further, every-time they come to be with their kids, they minister to all the people around them. They chat and pray with strangers in the cafeteria and listen patiently to the stories of pain from people they don’t know. They visit other rooms and encourage the medical staff, as well as entertain our guests and friends.
My mom and dad are two of the top people, if not THE top people Karen and I want with us on every journey like this. Thanks Dad. Thanks Mom. Thanks for being examples of Christ and love and mercy all these years. Thanks for standing in the gap for your children and grandchildren. Thanks for ministering with your presence. Whether it’s massages, childcare, prayer, words of encouragement, financial support, whatever – you both are incredible supports. You are what brings joy in the journey.
Thank you all for your love and encouragement. Please continue in written word and prayer.
We love you,
wes.
PS- I’d be remiss not to mention the many times, including this transplant surgery, that Paul and Amie Shumski have shouldered these burdens for my parents while my parents made their way here. Karen would have sat alone for 6 hours during my over-time procedure in the hospital had Paul and Amie not waited with her. You two are our heroes as well. Thank you for caring for me and my children by caring for Karen.
What a testimony your parents have! I hope that one day my kids will feel about me the way that you feel about your parents. I will keep praying for you and Karen and the kids.
Well said! Doug and Grace are the best in-laws a wife could ask for. I appreciate them greatly! I also appreciate my mother who has taken our children during these days and many others and for the overnights so that I am able to travel to be with Wes. God has given me 2 great sets of parents! We are truly blessed.
Also, I am thankful for Paul and Amie for coming to be with me and help pass the time.
Perfectly said, Wes. I totally agree. I did not know when I married into this family that I was getting the BEST mother and father-in-law ever. So many of my friends say that when they “grow up” and have daughter-in-laws, they hope they can be just like my mother-in-law. 🙂
So glad Doug and Grace are there with you.
Oh, and my brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws aren’t too bad either. 🙂
I would also echo what Karen said about her mom, Judy. Judy has always been available for us and our kids. She as well, has ministered greatly to us over the years. In fact Karen’s whole family has been a blessing to us. They drop what they are doing regularly to help us out. Like Lana already stated, I have always felt like I married into the best family ever! (Except for Linda. She leaves town for vacation everytime one of us Coddington’s is in need…live ya sis!)
wes.
That is the wonderful thing about God. He knows what we will need before we do and plans it all out for us. He cares so much about the details in our lives that he places people and even things (like technology) in our lives to guide us, teach us, encourage us, love us, and so much more. I know Jason and I are thankful that you were placed in our lives for a very special reason (on a very special day in our lives for us as a couple and more special and defining days for Jason). So from friendly Manitoba, there are many prayers being sent up to our creator on yours and your family’s behalf.
Marcy
I am so glad that your family loves all of you in the Coddington family. Some people forget to thank the parents who help out but you are doing that which honors them.
I thank God that Linda introduced me to this wonderful family. First by emailed prayer requests and then the blog site. She is very faithful to ask for prayer.
I am blessed to hear that Karen had a wonder brother and sister in Christ to sit with during the operation.
God bless and praying for the kidney to continue to function and for your steady but quick recovery, Wes.
RoseAnn
Thank you Wes and Karen for sharing your lives and blessing me. Thank you for sharing the stories about the others in your lives who bless you. It makes my heart so full and my eyes leak. Happy Belated Birthday. Love you both.
Theresa
Awwww…..so fitting….so ironic…..I am presently reading 365 Thank Yous, a great piece about surviving life by being grateful. Your gratefulness and your parents’ grace are all gifts from God. And guess what? You aren’t the only lucky recipients. Grace, in particular, has “been there” for me in much the same way she is there for you. Possibly, they are two of the most generous and kind people I know. And so, I leave you with a prayer for families.
In Gratitude
Thank you, Father, for having created us and given us
To each other in the human family.
Thank you for being with us in all our joys and
Sorrows, for your comfort in our sadness, your
Companionship in our loneliness.
Thank you for yesterday, today, tomorrow and for the
Whole of our lives.
Thank you for friends, for health and for grace.
May we live this and every day conscious of all that
Has been given to us. (Michael Buckley)
This, and many others like it, are what my family pray regularly, as we support two siblings nearing their end, after battling many years of cancer.
Let pray for all who are ill, healthy, or recovering from surgery!
Rebecca
Thank you, Wes and Karen and Lana, for sharing your Mom, Dad, and Mom-in-law and Dad-in-law with us through these breathtaking messages. God blessed me the day I interviewed with Grace and from then on developed a sisterhood and brotherhood with her and Doug. Doug and Grace are the most loving and giving friends. Always! What an amazing joy it is to witness their presence flow through each of their children and their children’s families. It’s a bloodline that originated with Jesus. The Coddington family is truly a Blessing….
This is something we all know up in this area, being friends with Grace and Doug over the last decade or so. Thanks to all of you for for saying it so well…. Hang in there Wes. Stay strong.
It is actually we who are blessed by our children, grandchildren, and many friends and family members. We do no more. and probably much less, than many other parents – however, if we can be the hands and feet of Christ, then we are the most blessed of all – He gives us the opportunities. For that we are truly grateful.
And – I have to add that it is easy to love our children – both the in-laws and out-laws!!