Compassion

I’m so grateful for my mom and her care for me and our family.  She gave up a nursing career to stay home and raise us 5 kids.  Whenever she made chili, she would set aside a portion for me before adding the dreaded kidney beans (I was spoiled).  She made birthdays and holidays special growing up.  She loved me enough to discipline me (I’ll never forget her chasing me with a wooden spoon around the kitchen table!).  I love her sense of humor and her love for the Lord, but what I admire most is Mom’s compassion.  It touched me to see Mom cry with those in mourning.  She didn’t have to say a word, she was just there.  Even in the hardest of moments – when my cousin committed suicide – Mom was right there offering comfort and compassion to her brother and his family.

Compassion was never one of my strong suites.  While in ministry in Rosemount, people would joke about how little compassion I had toward others.  I decided to start praying for compassion.  I forgot about it for awhile until I was watching a commercial about an airline mechanic.  Whenever he was feeling like his job didn’t matter, he would walk through the terminal.  There he saw a little girl waiting to get on a plane and he knew his work was vital.  I had tears in my eyes!  God was softening my heart, making me more compassionate, more like Mom.

I’m no where near my mother in the compassion department, but her life taught me that it is godly to “rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

Ya, OK!

There are few in this world whom I respect more than my dad. I so admire Dad’s love for God’s Word, his servant heart and his commitment to Mom.

I remember when I was in junior high I had a burden to tell Dad that I loved him. It’s something I had gotten out of the habit of saying to him. As I walked out the door for school, I said, “Dad, I love you.”

Dad replied, “Ya, OK!”

Some time later, I was on the phone with Grandma – my dad’s mom. Before hanging up, I said to her, “Grandma, I love you.”

Guess what she said? “Ya, OK!”

I chuckle now whenever I think of those incidents. This is no knock on my dad or grandma. They’re Norwegians! Dad may not have uttered the words, “I love you” very often, but I never doubted his love for me. Dad showed his love in the countless acts of service to me and our family! Our house, today, is a showcase of that love – bookshelves, cabinets, dressers he has made, repairs he has spearheaded, improvements he brought to our lives – all representing countless hours of sacrifice, countless hours of love.

It reminds me of what the Apostle John wrote, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18).

Thanks Dad, for loving us with actions and in truth!

One night I was tucking the kids into bed. I said to Joshua (age 14), “I love you!”

He replied, “Ya, OK!”

Ahh, another hardcore Norwegian!

50th Wedding Anniversary

In June of 2008, the entire Opseth clan assembled at Christmas Mountain Village in Wisconsin Dells for a family reunion. We had a wonderful time! It was special because we celebrated Mom and Dad’s 50th wedding anniversary!

In a world of escape clauses, I’m so thankful for parents who remain faithful to their vows of marriage. There is safety and security for children whose parents are committed, no matter what. The “D” word was never an option for my parents and it’s not an option for me and Michelle. We often say we’re happily stuck with each other!

Mom pointed out a quote she had heard from Ruth Bell Graham, Billy’s wife.  When asked had she ever considered divorce being married to the world’s most famous evangelist, she replied, “Divorce No! Murder Yes!”

Thanks Mom and Dad for giving us kids the greatest gift ever…your faithfulness to each other!

For some pictures from our family reunion, click here.

Table Tennis

Since I was a kid, I’ve loved table tennis, or ping pong as amateurs call it (those who are surprised when you tell them you sweat playing the game!). I remember having a table in our garage when I was in high school and playing with family and friends. Even Mom played every once and awhile; she had game!

My freshman year at Bethel College, my roommate (Mark Strohbehn) and I would take time most evenings to play. These were intense matches: long volleys, diving on the floor, dripping in sweat. We were pretty good…and cocky. We decided to go to Disney’s Table Tennis club in Minneapolis to impress others! We showed up, unexpected, looking for some poor, soon-to-be-demolished opponents.  Mark and I were each assigned a player.

Between our two matches, I believe we got no more than 5 points! Ouch!

Pride really does goes before a fall!

We slithered back to Bethel and never darkened the door of Disney’s again! But I did manage to beat Strohbehn in the championship match of Bethel College’s Inter mural tournament.

Osceola Train Ride

Today we met my parents in Osceola, WI,  to ride the train! We had a great time! Afterward, the kids loved climbing around the engine. What a fun memory!

We then hit the nearby Dairy Queen for a treat. The kids found plenty to do with a small creek right next door.

Thanks Mom and Dad for a great outing!