Doctor Paul, MD

A small-town doctor working to preserve the art of old-fashioned primary care.

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Thanksgiving

December 8, 2019 by Paul Williams 7 Comments

Thank you Father for this new day, for peace, perspective and contentment. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving day was a busy day at our house. My parents and sister’s family came over and we had Thanksgiving here. They helped us put up our Christmas decorations too. Matthew found it too much and went upstairs after a time. The next few days after Thanksgiving were difficult, as it was quiet and there was a lot of time to remember and miss Theresa.

Christmas will be more difficult. Mothers are all about the holidays, gifts, smells of baking, and so much more. I loved how Theresa made it special. There is going to be a lot of time to miss Theresa in the month of December, but Christmas day will be especially hard as it was the accumulation of all her preparation all month. We did buy the kids a few things at Disneyland -which will be painful to wrap and I’m sure to receive. I’ve asked the kids to help me buy their gifts this year. I think for a time, holidays will loose their excitement and fun.

The kids and I, minus our oldest as he is still at school, went to the cemetery today to see the military headstone on Theresa’s grave. Mom and I are still working on a family grave marker.

If I focus on today and fill it with tasks or work or other things, I do fairly well. When I remember, look back, replay events, look at pictures or movies – anything that brings me back to life with my soulmate, I get tearful, the anguish comes back up, and I dream of life together again. I loved our season of life together. I spent 28 years being single, pursuing education and a career laid out for me. But the next 26 years doing life WITH a soulmate was oh so much more fulfilling, filled with color, sounds, warmth and satisfaction. We were made for relationship; God made it so we crave him and need each other. Now I enter a new season wishing it was the past season. I am indebted to Theresa for the past 26 years. I believe the strength of what we had, the growth we have experience will give me the courage to persevere in this season of life.

The depth of our reliance on God has deepened in me these past months. It is He who comforts, gives courage to continue on, fills me with Himself. As I mentioned before, I am more convinced of Hebrews 13:14 “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come”. And Hebrews 11:13-16 “…having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. for people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland….they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one… for he has prepared for them a city”. His promises are rock solid and on which we can count on. Life is much more than what we make of it here on earth. And I am looking forward to the joyful reunion.

Thank you Lord for abundant life in you, for drawing us closer, for the hope of tomorrow and for the work of today. Thank you for friends and family. Thank you for redeeming our story. May you all have a blessed Christmas season.

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Filed Under: Dealing with Loss

Comments

  1. Toni Belveal says

    December 9, 2019 at 10:07 pm

    Thank you again for sharing your pain, insight and hope. Theresa will forever be in your hearts. The holidays are difficult. So glad you have strong support from your family and friends. Let them minister to you. Prayers for you and your family.

    Reply
  2. Glenn Palmer says

    December 9, 2019 at 11:17 pm

    Not much I can say that hasn’t already been said…….I’m praying for you and your family that the Lord helps you through these difficult times. I was unable to attend Theresa’s memorial service but did watch the video when I realized that it was online. What a wonderful love story and life story.
    Praying you and your family have a blessed Christmas time, too.

    Reply
  3. Carol Johns says

    December 10, 2019 at 9:22 pm

    Amen to Toni’s remark.

    Reply
  4. Lori Spencer says

    December 11, 2019 at 12:42 pm

    We continue to keep your family in our daily prayers Paul!

    Reply
  5. Kristin says

    December 11, 2019 at 4:27 pm

    hugs and prayers
    Merry Christmas & sweet blessings to you and the kids

    Reply
  6. Debbie O’Connor says

    December 15, 2019 at 6:10 am

    Your family is continually in my thoughts and prayers. I think of my beautiful friend every day. She always loved Christmas, and she was so good at making things special. We used to shop together and I can see her at 17 as clearly in my mind as if it were yesterday-beautiful green eyes, perfectly styled hair, a twisty silver necklace and cream cable sweater…amazing that my brain holds that picture so vividly, but I can’t remember why I went in the kitchen.

    I’m so glad your family is surrounding you during this time. I know our Lord is holding all of you close. I pray He gives you sweet memories this Christmas.

    Reply
  7. Kathleen Spencer says

    December 19, 2019 at 12:51 am

    Your Christmas lights were like a beacon on a hill as I drove home last evening, the same way your life is a testimony of God’s sustaining love and mercy Paul. Prayers continue for you and the kids during this Christmas season.

    Reply

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About Doctor Paul

Dr. Paul Williams, MD is a small-town family practice doctor working in Centralia, Washington. He works from the same office where his primary care practice was established by his father over 38 years ago. He believes strongly that the art of the old-fashioned primary care doctor is an important feature of our medical system that should be preserved and protected from excess interference from insurance companies and government regulation alike.

Due to changes in the health care industry and regulations affecting it, and in an effort to preserve the art of old-fashioned primary care, Dr. Paul has shifted his practice to a Direct Care model, meaning that patients pay an affordable monthly fee to purchase primary care health care services directly, rather than having their services billed through an insurance company.

This blog is intended to help Dr. Paul's patients (and anyone else!) understand the changes the medical industry is going through, and to provide information about the Direct Care model of primary care.

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