40. Growing together

Mum and dad were only a telephone call away. Every time we talked to them we could sense their contentment and cheerfulness. They had so much to share with us.

From the moment they’d wake up they would commit their day to God. They prayed together and studied the Bible. There they found a source of strength and encouragement to focus on positive things. Mum and dad didn’t know many Christian hymns but mum read the hymnal book; every day one hymn. She said in her heart she sang and meditated on the inspired words of the songs. She was sure that people who wrote the songs experienced God’s presence in their lives in a special way. One of her favourite became It is well with my soul written by Horation G. Spafford:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,


When sorrows like sea billows roll;


Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,


It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,


It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,


Let this blest assurance control,


That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,


Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,


No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life


Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,


The sky, not the grave, is our goal;


Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!


Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,


The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;


The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,


Even so, it is well with my soul.

41. SPA

It was August when we next met with mum and dad. We took mum with us to Vrnjacka Banja, a mineral spa in central Serbia where Branislav’s parents had a summerhouse.

In Serbia there are many spas and they are popular destination for people with various illnesses. Vrnjacka Banja has four sources of different natural mineral waters and each is used in treatments of specific type of illness. Hot water springs have been used for patients with digestive system problems. We thought that would give mum a chance to revitalize and also relax with the family.

It was obvious to us that mum had lost some weight. We went to see the specialist in the spa clinic. When we shared mum’s illness history, and when the doctor examined mum with sadness in his voice he said: “ You understand that water is only water.” I felt so disappointed, I wished there was something that could help mum.

Water is only water but not always. My thoughts went back about two millenniums ago. Jesus was acting on a request of his mother to help out in an embarrassing situation at the wedding in Cana. The wedding host ran out of wine. Jesus gave instructions for the ceremonial jars to be filled with water, just plain water. He said a blessing and the water turned into wine.

The guests immediately tasted the difference. The host was told off for keeping the better, tastier wine to be served after wine of lesser quality was served. Very little did they know about the origin of the wine they were drinking.

There were crowds of sick people in the spa. They waited for their check-ups, some for treatments, some walking to drink or fetch healthy water from the sources. They all had one thing in common, they were there in hope that it might help them to ease their pain and bring healing. What a difference it would make to have Jesus turn all that water into healing water that would make immediate and striking difference.

It was so perplexing seeing mum physically fragile and her spirit growing strong and firm. We spent a lot of time walking, talking and studying together. When we were short for words to give her hope, for things were not going the right direction, she would be the one comforting, encouraging and guiding people. As if she never wanted her illness to be an obstacle to enjoy every day given to her. She always found something to thank the Lord for something nice to focus on.