Dad, Spring, the Resurrection

I can't believe I forgot to post this, but my dad is now a fully-functioning member of society again. He returned to work on Tuesday, March 27th. His co-workers decorated the office with signs and balloons! Then, we had our celebratory family dinner at Churrasco's (mmmmmmm...) on April 3rd, and our first Astros' game on the 6th. He went up to College Station for my brother's Aggie Ring Day on Friday, and he and my mom went to a "Parade of Homes" yesterday to get ideas for their retirement house.

Seemingly simple things like the baseball games are reason for a celebration and so much more precious now than in seasons past. I am humbled when I think of friends who have lost family members to cancer. We have been tremendously blessed. God owed us nothing yet gave us the remarkable gift of getting our dad back. He gives and He takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

It is overwhelming to consider all that has happened in the past 8 months and the rollercoaster of emotions experienced. A year ago, cancer wasn't even on the radar. In August, we experienced the devastation of his diagnosis and now- this springtime- the jubilation of his recovery. The significance of spring-time, Christ's death and the power of His resurrection have impacted me much more this year. Even more important than my dad's healing from physical death, Christ's resurrection is our victory. Death has no more sting for those Christ has made alive spiritually.

"Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit" (1 Pet. 3:18)

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Phil. 3:10)

He is risen, indeed!
"Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. (Rev. 5:5)