Luke and Mal

I am amazed at how alike two people can be when they are different in colour, culture and generation. The YFC driver in Uganda is so like Mal. There are many things that could be, or could have been said about these two men:

“He adores his wife and everyone sees it.”

 

“She thrives in his love and in his company.”

 “He is really interested in cars,

 he loves to drive and is a very good driver.”

 

“He is good with his hands and loves to fix things.”

 “He relates well 

 

 with people of all ages”

 “He has a wonderful smile that lights up his whole face

 and warms all who receive it .”

 

“When he is speaking with a person, he is fully engaged with that person.”

“He is kind, gentle, patient, and always thinking of others.”

“He is ‘a man after God’s own heart’.”

Thank you, Luke for the constant reminder you are of my beloved Mal while I'm in Uganda.

 

5 years ago today

Malcolm Brian Knowles, a wonderful gift to me from a loving Heavenly Father who gives good gifts to His children.

It's 5 years ago today since Mal left us. Mal was God's gift to me. He was my love, my rock, my treasure, my happiness. Oh, how I miss that man and sharing life with him.

  Something I really miss is the fun we had together.

  

 Mal was a larrikin - in the best sense of the word.

 

Everyone enjoyed Mal's sense of humour, but no-one more than me.

 

 I was chuffed when he told me that 'life is fun with you'. For me life was fun with him!

 Obviously it went both ways.

On a country road in Switzerland we came across some hard rubbish he had to try out,

and in England it was a village sign he identified with.

Sometimes I feel that this gig is too hard on my own, but then my loving Father picks me up and dusts me off and gives me all I need to set out again. Little by little I am adjusting to life without my beautiful Mal. I know that my Heavenly Father will continue to give me good gifts. He's still my Father and I am still His treasured daughter.

Great is Thy Faithfulness!

Yesterday we sang this beautiful old hymn at church. Great is Thy Faithfulness.

It holds so much meaning and so many memories for me. 

Mal and I sang it on our wedding day nearly 14 years ago.

 

One of the lines that stands out for me is: 'Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow'

'Bright hope for tomorrow'. An exciting life ahead of us with Jesus.

 .

  

 What fun we had! What adventures! What  priveleges God gave us as we served Him together.

Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Mal.

  Three years ago we said 'goodbye for now'. 

We sang Great is Thy Faithffulness at Mal's thanksgiving service. 

That same line was full of meaning for me then too: 'Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow'. Amidst my tears I believed it wholeheartedly then and I still do. God is so good to me and although I go now without my dearest companion in life, my journey is exciting and fulfilling. God knew. God knows and He's awesome. He gives me strength for each new today and my hope for tomorrow is in His promises.

Yesterday, when we sang in church I couldn't sing again through my tears.

They were tears of sadness because the love of my life is no longer by my side. And they were mingled with tears of thankfulness to a God who gives wonderful gifts and has seen me through each day and will continue to do just that.

Mal's birthday

25th August was Mal's birthday.  I was thrilled that my children remembered and, along with Mal's brother, emailed to say that they were thinking of him and of me - warmed my heart and made me cry at the same time. Good tears! Thankful tears. Thankful to God for my beautiful husband and the wonderful years we lived and loved life together.

25th August is also the birthday of a very gorgeous 13 year old living close to us in Kigali, Rwanda. Alliance lives with the RYFC director and his family so that she can attend Kigali Christian School. We were invited to share in her birthday celebrations.

 

Here she is about to talk to her dad who called to wish her 'Happy Birthday'.  The director gave a speech - of course!! Africans LOVE speeches and this was a very worthy recipient!  In his speech JB also made mention of Mal, who shared her birthday.  He told Alliance that she would do well to live her life like he did - a life of service to others - more tears for me!! Thankful tears again.

We enjoyed a sumptuous Rwandan meal with the family and then it was time for cake and candles.  Yummy cake!

Happy birthday, Alliance