Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. What are sheep like? My joy and delight is to share with you how you can exchange the fear of death for the faith of David. Our Comfort is in Christ. I know that I preach as much or more to myself as to anyone else. Bob Ingle. Their son, Isaac, was born to them in their old age. God is not a distant God who winds up the universe and lets it go. Psalm 23:2-3 ESV. If its ok for Jesus to grieve for the loss of those closest to him, it is ok for you to do the same. Almost every time without exception, when I sit down with a family to plan a funeral service, they talk about the 23rd Psalm. The writer to the Hebrews gives us two vitally important truths, which explain the faith of David in Psalm 23. Psalm 23:5-6 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. I baptized her in 1989 and was her pastor for 29 years. God solved the problem of Abraham's lying by dealing with his fear of death. Does this mean that everyone will be saved by Christ's death? Carey: Henry Carey, 1723 Psalm 23 Joseph Addison, 1712 DOXOLOGY The Lord my pasture shall prepare, And feed me with a shepherd's care; His presence shall my wants . A Funeral Sermon: Bishop Dehon. Saturday: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel. Matthew 2:6. They had sang songs of Christs birth together. Ps. Every person is special and unique and by visiting with the family you can learn something about the birth, work, background, character, age, or family of /Info 41 0 R /ViewerPreferences 42 0 R He restores my soul; One of the specific prayers, I am asking you to prayer about is: May God give us specific hearts for our community. Yes we are here to mourn but we are also here to celebrate the life of Brandy Burt. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. They are mine. Our new Preaching Suite solution makes it easy to prepare, preach and archive your sermons. He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Death is the penalty for sin, and we are all sinners, worthy of death. My privilege on this occasion, is to share with you how you can grieve with hope. The psalm begins with a strong personal affirmation of faith, 'The Lord's my shepherd' and everything else follows from that! Are we loving and knowing our community? %%EOF David had learned to smile at death. Friday: They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet. Matthew 2:5. xref And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. If we are honest with ourselves, some must admit that facing death today is a fearful experience, just as Hebrews informs us. 0000001988 00000 n A Sermon On Luke 1:46-55, Seeing With The Eye Of The Heart A Funeral Sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:9. We received that news with overwhelming shock and disbelief. There are many needs around the world and many good ideas about how to serve people well in the name of Jesus. But all of this was because David knew the Lord. Thats because when God created this world, He created us to be with him. = Believe that Jesus died for you and rose again. Ted A. Giese / Friday October 23rd 2020: Season of Pentecost / Psalm 23 'Lord Take My Hand' The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters.He restores my soul.He leads me in paths of righteousnessfor His name's sake. The entertainer came back to continue the program. No one wants to. = Admit that you are a sinner and can't save yourself. Marsh for adding a new dimension to my understanding of the shadow being backed by a source of light. The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Marsh,. he would say again. Lessons from a Sheepdog. God is our shepherd, and we are his sheep. One foot in front of the other. . The peace of the twenty-third psalm is built on that great promise, "The Lord is my Shepherd.". /Filter /FlateDecode My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. Even today, prophets point us back to God. Do we know those we live with well enough to know when they are struggling, before they have admitted to themselves? The needs of sheep to depend on one who can see beyond them in time and space. This is not my doing. I want you to garner some of her insight as well. 13 Psalm 23 - Lord Shepherd - Helen Abercrombie 1998 (MLM) - page 2 www.scholia.net shepherd; I shall not want. That doesnt help anyone. Scripture: Psalm 23. /H [ 1248 406 ] 0000001248 00000 n God's provisions are certainly available, but only if the Lord is your shepherd. Isaiah 53:6 says: All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. It is all those things and more. David wrote this Psalm from personal experience because he too was a shepherd. He restores my soul. By making this journey with the Shepherd. 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. 0000001654 00000 n 76 0 obj << It is, rather, proof that the light is also here. That light is always there. thirty something years ago, early in my first pastorate, i preached a sermon entitled: "why we do funerals backwards." my contention then, as now, is that the traditional american funeral should be reversed. God provided so well for him that he lacked nothing. Try, For To Us A Child Is Born With Scripture. I know you do Kay. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. Pastor Hromowyk preaching Psalm 23Hymns: 790 Praise to the Loard, the Almighty657 A Mighty fortress Is Our God717 Eternal Father, Strong to Save He did not fear death. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. God protected Sarah, and spoke to Pharaoh, who was about to make her his wife. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. God promised to bless Abraham through his offspring. 5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death. Those who have personally trusted in Jesus Christ can also give thanks for the failures and the faults of those who have touched their lives, and have passed on. Kelvin, yes, it was a difficult sermon. c.) God will allows us to share in His eternal victory. We have many wants dont we? /Root 44 0 R Both are essential. Church Of God. The Good Shepherd leads us in the paths of righteousness. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me . For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. In John 10:11-13 we read, 11 "I am the good shepherd. We want to know that we can depend on God and the way God cares for us. , tells us about how Jesus wept over the death of his friend Lazarus. Theres been a mistake. Dont forget the jokes, or the way she would make you feel when she was around you. This passage puts Psalm 23 into perspective. He can't restore us if we don't listen to His voice. Sermon. I mentioned earlier that death was not apart of Gods plan. David wrote this Psalm from personal experience because he too was a shepherd. a. He said he had glimpsed a time in the future when all of them would be together in heaven, and all their earthly conflicts would disappear. 1. I shall have gone higher, that is all out of this old clay tent into a house that is immortal, a body that sin cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body fashioned into His glorious body. For centuries the Twenty-third Psalm has been one of the most treasured passages in all of Holy Scripture. Sometimes it takes all we have just to take the next step. This is what Ive been looking for. He said that he had traveled the world, gone to churches, searched in exotic and far away places, prayed in monasteries, had some wild times, and hung out with Buddhists seeking this matrix. He is there, right beside you, guiding and leading step by step. Psalm 23:1-2 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. We must let Jesus do it for us. They are your questions too. I Know the Psalm, But He Knows The Shepherd. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. Psalm 23 gives us a glimpse of the care God gives us in both our earthly and eternal lives. Make Your Spirit and peace present in all of their homes and lives. Sometimes they tell the story about memorizing it as a child in Sunday School. God will never leave us or forsake - He is always there for us. Have you personally received Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God and as your Good Shepherd? For many months he sought to bring peace to them and their neighboring tribe. I shall not want is a prayer and declaration about the future. For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage. Matthew 2:2. (a) It is impossible for there to be a valley unless there are mountains. Sometimes the journey is filled with joy, and sometimes it is very sad and lonely. Tuesday: [They were] asking, Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? Have you believed in the Good Shepherd? It is the greater reality of today. We are not surely exactly what we want, just that we are unsatisfied with what we have. are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; In baptism we are made members of the household of God already, and our destiny is made secure through faith. 0000018083 00000 n She treated many as if they were family. She was born on June 14, 1946. 3 You turn people back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, you mortals.". For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 0000017864 00000 n This is what happened a father gave his only son to the neighboring tribe and brought peace. Twenty years ago, I could have used the name of Joshua in passing, but not so today. /Pages 40 0 R Learn more. Scriptures: Psalm 23 - The Lord is My Shepherd. But what the Word of God does make very clear is that as we move through such times, God is with us. Pastors will find that adding personal notes about the deceased is easy to do. Amen. That light does not undo what has happened or magically make everything better. And thus, those who trust in Him need no longer fear death. We want hope. The word repent means that we stop going our own way and return to the Shepherd. So help our spirits to find peace and comfort in Your eternal strength. David does not speak of the Lord as "our Shepherd," but as "my Shepherd." 3) DEATH IS A DEFEATED FOE (PSALM 23:4) a) There can be no valley without mountains. It brings comfort and encouragement to all who read it. But Abraham, like all men, feared death, and this fear enslaved him. He was not afraid of dying because God was with Him. The veteran said after that, it was hard to go back to fighting the next day. The fighting stopped, and all was quiet. All shall be well. David called the Lord, My Shepherd. Apr 11, 2018. As I was thinking about Joyce's life, her faith, and a Scripture to read, a passage came to my mind that Joyce read many, many times. Even when she did not know what she wanted. The proof of that is not in what I say but in the life Ashley lived. Talk to you shepherd. Spend time in the Bible today, so you know Gods will and way. Second, David's faith rested in the fact that God was His shepherd. Biblically, prophets shine the light on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Verse 1 - "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want" - is really the theme of . This is the faith of which David is writing, in Psalm 23. Our love has driven us to talk about our guests with compassion and a desire to serve those whose lives feel so different from those of us who are not worried about where we will sleep tonight. She often times went above and beyond for people that she knew. These two tribes were continually fighting. Paul expects Christians to view death differently than the rest. 0000017595 00000 n Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. my mother's funeral sermon - one year later. I am so sorry about your fathers death. David knew that he had received God's lavish care all his life. Will you obey the Good Shepherd? Perhaps you know the 23rd Psalm well like the entertainer, but do you know the Shepherd? To comfort: Florence leaves a vacancy that no one can replace, a gap in our lives. Even when we dont see it the light accompanies us through the valley. The Lord is my shepherd -. It tells us that the fear of death hinders and haunts men all of their lives. And the darker the shadow, the brighter the light. You are the author and perfector of life; You are our hope in times of trial and our peace in times of distress. or: R/. Absolutely amazing Fr. Marsh, he would say, Youve created a spiritual world. Click here for more messages from the Psalm 23 Series. A second image in the Twenty-third Psalm to which I would call your attention is this: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. John 10:26-28: You do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. We have come to celebrate and remember the life of. A. It tells us that death normally produces fear, and not faith. And with Brandy, family didnt stop with blood. Scripture: Psalm 25:8-9. It is by Christ's death that we are saved from our sins. Do we know what is specific about West Grove now? Can you honestly say, the Lord is my Shepherd? Jesus rose from the dead, triumphant over death. Post Reply He was truly a miracle child. It is my hope that the specific Funeral Sermons On Psalm 23 you are looking for can be accentuated in some way by the free materials that I offer through this site. However, I have come to believe that Psalm 23 has little to do with funerals, instead, it has everything to do with life and familiarity. I want. Scripture: Until that day comes when the light pierces the shadow and it will our challenge, our hope, and our way forward is to put one foot in front of the other. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD Psalm 23 is the best-known psalm in the book of Psalms. The valley is real and the shadow is here. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Knowing that his wife was beautiful, and fearing that the Egyptians would kill him, in order to marry his wife, Abraham instructed Sarah to lie, and to represent herself as his sister, not his wife. This sin no matter how hard we try cannot be removed by any good we might do. A. Psalm 23:4: Courageous Faith: E. Erskine. Our new Preaching Suite solution makes it easy to prepare, preach and archive your sermons. The psalmist sees God in control of his life. John 10:11 says: I am the good shepherd. To start saving items to a SermonFolder, please create an account. Funeral Sermon for Elizabeth Radons / Rev. Required fields are marked *. Judy trains sheepdogs, as well as others who have sheepdogs. The Psalms are filled with affirmations of God's love for us: Psalm 13:5, 31:7, 86:5, 136 - 25 times. In fact, 32 separate times through the Bible, we hear about God or Jesus as the good shepherd. are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Ive seen it happen in the lives of others. Others understand it as the power of resurrection. The Lord is my shepherd: This psalm starts right at the core of things, naming who God is, and who we are. i) Psalm 23:4 (1) David talks about a valley. If you travel through the mountains passes of Tibet you need a guide. ii) Psalm 23 is in between two "mountain" Psalms. When John saw Jesus, he cried out. Ask God to show you where you can walk to know abundant life. Click here for more messages from the book of Psalms. The restoration He gives is forgiveness of sin and peace with God. In Christ, even in our want, we want for nothing. If we are serving alongside God as sheepdog, do we know andlove the sheep? Your honesty and hope are perfect. /T 108286 Years ago I met a veteran of World War I. Will you repent of your sin and believe in Him? Having trouble logging into your account? Ps 23:3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His names sake. We have studied and loved as families, have had varying food needs and companionship needs. Jan 10, 1988. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. The LORD watches over you--the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. God has the ability to provide for us. The walk you are experiencing today is a temporary one. Often the weather closes in and you can't see where you are going. Its given me new insight into John 1.v.5. One afternoon he was preparing to board a train to London when he spotted a man in ragged, dirty clothing begging for money from passengers along the station platform. But we do go through great and terrible difficulties all of the time, and God constantly warns us of these dangers and difficulties in His Holy Word. Why do they need a shepherd? Sin, our sin separated from God and in that caused what God had made, fallen. However, that seemed to me to be off kilter somehow. they are like the new grass of the morning: Today we walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23). I want you to learn to smile at death. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Not sure what you know about sheep but lets just say that without the shepherd there, the sheep would find themselves in desperate need of protection and provision. /O 45 0000032350 00000 n The psalms, and especially Psalm 23, speak powerfully to and for God's people in troubled times. God is there to comfort us and sustain us. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. Only the shepherd can restore our souls from the ravages of sin. There is no valley here. That is easier said than done. - Romans 3:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." The final verse of Psalm 23 is one that addresses both life and death, and even bridges the two: Verse 6 - "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.". A good shepherd who lay down his life for the sheep. Third, David's faith replaced his fear of his enemies, and even of death. Rev. I know. This sermon has inspired me greatly as I am using portions of it to prepare a sermon/eulogy for my fallen first cousin. You won't be afraid if you know the Shepherd because He'll take you home. You have simply awoken to what has always been here, what has aways been within you. The matrix Ashley experienced is the light behind the shadow. a.) A large audience filled the large auditorium. God is frequently described in the Bible as being like a shepherd who cares for and tends to a flock of sheep. You are correct, we do not walk alone. If a father gave his own son to his enemy, his sacrificial deed showed that he could be trusted! Its our hope. 1013. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art . /ID [<11818585010ce5325197a63f7dcd3a5c><11818585010ce5325197a63f7dcd3a5c>] I pray Gods healing and consolation for you. endobj You and I are known by God intimately as a shepherd knows each sheep. I know its not easy. you are my son - everything I have is yours! " He couldnt physically contain the joy, life, and vitality of the matrix within him. Its a cruel hoax. Then I spoke with Z., Ashleys wife, and my denials gave way to silence and tears. Psalm 23:4: Comfort Through the Rod and Staff: F. B. Meyer, B. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. The promise of God's provision, sins forgiven, a constant companion and a home in heaven only applies to those who know Him. The more Ashley spoke about the matrix, the faster he talked and the more excited he got until he just started bouncing, and his arms flapping about. % And David had lost many things that led to the writing of this Psalm. . Third, David's faith replaced his fear of his enemies, and even of death. Its ok to miss her. In a time of suffering, as we're trying to make sense of it . He took on human flesh and lived among men. David tells us that goodness follows us all the days of our lives. Grant to them an extra measure of Your grace and pour over them an overwhelming sense of Your presence. I was scrolling through her Facebook page and noticed this fun tradition of pie-ing someone in the face at the Waffle House. This was Abraham's faith, and thus it overcome his fear of death. C. Death followed David everywhere. The staff with its large crook at the end serves to support the sheeps body when it crosses a dangerous chasm. It could be said that you were not official until you got a pie in the face from Brandy. You did create that! In recent days, Suzie could certainly have talked about how she had been through such a valley of the shadow of death. But she was never alone. However He can only do this after He restores our soul. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The third image in the Twenty-third Psalm which I would lift up today is this: Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. And please dont hear what I have just said as an answer or explanation. Your email address will not be published. He had fascinating stories to tell, and one of them was about a battle that had taken place in Europe. He understood the special relationship and care a shepherd has with the sheep. One step at a time. We lift up the Tebbe Family and friends to You today and ask that Your peace, mercy and strength might rest with them during this time of sorrow and loss. God had called Abraham from his homeland and brought him to the land of Israel, which He promised to give to him and his descendants. 0000004086 00000 n A short time elapsed and then, following what seemed to the family to be the death struggle he spoke again: This is my triumph; this my coronation day! Take a look as she answered a few questions. INTRODUCTION: We are in the middle of a three week series on this Psalm, and we are looking at what it means to have the Lord as your shepherd. It is glorious! In other words, God provides a place of rest for us. The light is always shining behind the shadow, and the shadow will never overcome it. The Sawi then realized that this was what God had done for them. 0 Do you have this hope? Death should cause us to mourn. I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? It is among the most familiar, so much so that even people who are not religious or very knowledgable about Scripture recognize these words. There are two images that the Psalmist paints for us. b. Sin marred everything. He makes us lie down in green pastures. In his epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul described these two contrasting responses to death in these words: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Isaiah, Farmer, Funerals Christian. Regrettably, many of my hearers do not know the . 0000002052 00000 n If you knew her, you are blessed for having that opportunity. Click here to return to the Sermons page.. Psalm 23:4. As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for YOUR rod and YOUR staff comfort me. This is a Psalm of David and David was a shepherd. Today, however, will not let us escape that reality. 2. This is a declaration and a prayer. Scripture: Psalm 25. The Funeral Sermon for Helen Abercrombie Pastor Michael L. McCoy Grace, mercy and peace to you, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Whether it is Psalm 23, John 14, the last verse of Psalm 17, or a thousand other Bible passages, God's Word is powerful and will do its work. He knows the way and He will personally lead you home if you are His sheep. 25-26. From the Gospel of Matthew, we get a glimpse of the scripture lesson we hear most around Epiphany. Amen. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. After he finished everyone gave him a generous round of applause. We thank the Lord for another beautiful Sunday morning that He has given us. He's the one who has made the way. People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them? Sheep have many wants. Daytime Lives and Nighttime Lives - A Sermon on John 3:1-17, When Life Changes - A Sermon on Matthew 17:1-9, When A Loved One Dies - A Funeral Sermon on John 14:1-6, Found Out and Known - A Sermon on John 4:5-42, Lent 3A, Follow Interrupting the Silence on WordPress.com. Try. God is close to us and cares for us as a shepherd cares for his sheep. It tells us that David's faith, as expressed in Psalm 23 is not natural, but supernatural. Psalm 23 Funeral Meditation. The rest have no hope. Because it is the nature of sheep to wander away from the safety of the fold. God once again spared them. Today, I invite you to respond to each want that rises up inside you with I shall not want. That is our way through the valley of the shadow of death. His son who was standing by his bedside said, No, no, father, you are dreaming. The Lord Jesus Christ then died for our sins, and suffered the penalty, our penalty, of death. Awakening from a sleep, he said, Earth recedes, Heaven opens before me. Do you have a personal relationship with Him? Every time this happened I would try to slow him down as best as anyone could and remind him, Ashley, I havent created anything. Heaven is the completion of Gods grace for us, 1.) Thank you for sharing it. You see, Jesus was grieving. 44 0 obj The text which I have just read from the Book of Hebrews expands on David's words in Psalm 23, explaining how David's faith in God can free him from the fear of death. The first part of the verse is clearly about life, using the words all the days of my life. It was there the day Ashley died and it is here today. And in fact, I wanna ask you to do that . 0000017003 00000 n Its what attracted you and me to him. That was an outstanding funeral sermon, and ( I guess) an exceptionally demanding one for you to preach. preach the funeral sermon. That does not mean we are without hope. If you know the shepherd, renewal will come but dont rush to try and find it. Psalm 23. For centuries the Twenty-third Psalm has been one of the most treasured passages in all of Holy Scripture. My heart hurts for this family, I know too well their hurt. God had given them a son, when they were as good as dead. She would simply repeat over and over again I want. For if the Lord is my shepherd I can also say, 'I'll not want'. Let me be clear about this. Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? Whether or not you want to hear Psalm 23, we all need the truth of Psalm 23 because Psalm 23 is about Jesus, and he's the one we want to see. Fearless Comfort: A reflection on Psalm 23:4. He does not send us through the dark valley with a cheery promise to meet us again on the other side. That sounds light-years away, but in fact it At 4:30 am on Monday morning the Good Shepherd lead our brother to paradise. Where do you need to study Gods word, so you are better prepared for Gods will? If you had died last Monday morning would the Good Shepherd have lead you home? I am adapting this sermon to use for the funeral of a member of a troubled family. Scriptures: We were only two weeks into our time in Zambia when I attended my first funeral, that of a young child of a young family who would become our friends. First, David's faith rested in God. We are here this evening for the joyful funeral of Mrs. Eloise Roop. 0000003043 00000 n God loves us like a Father He will protect us, b.) Never mind the names, the man interrupted, Just give me the numbers. endobj He restores my soul. After this an old man was asked to present the same Psalm. 0000002293 00000 n She replied, Well, theres Billy and Harry and Martha and. But dont forget all the great times you had together. God allows us to share in His glory. The rod is used by a shepherd to ward off evil and to direct the sheep as they walk. 0000000017 00000 n Denomination: True hope in grief cannot come, apart of the gospel. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (1) Psalm 22 deals with Mount Calvary. 2. The Christian can be thankful for the failures of those whose lives have touched their own because of the assurance that "God causes all things to work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). You feel like right now you are walking through a valley of darkness. But Herod was startled, because he had not studied Gods word. 43 0 obj Amen. God knows our limits. John Piper Jan 10, 1988. While we do no focus on one's failures at the time of their death, we must all admit that there are failures. He was fighting on a stretch of land for days on end. That is the one critical constant in changes of our lives. D.L.