Rainy Days and Mondays...In Loving Memory of James M. Vavrina

Lately, I've been hearing the lyrics to the Carpenter's 1971 hit song Rainy Days and Mondays playing in my head. If you're not familiar with the song, each verse ends with the phrase Rainy days and Mondays always get me down. I think it's peculiar that this is where my mind occasionally takes me because in the Northwest, it's either a rainy day or a Monday and often it's both at the same time. If this phrase rings true for any of us, then we must find ourselves down an awful lot. There is encouragement for us as Christ's followers just a few lines later in the chorus which reads: Funny but it seems that it's the only thing to do, run and find the one who loves me. I don't know about the theology of the Carpenters, but as I read through the lyrics, I found a gem, a gold nugget if you will: as we face our rainy days and Mondays, we can run and find the One who loves us. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 18:10, the name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." (NIV) In fact, Deuteronomy 31:6 assures us that God is with us through our trials saying, Be strong and courageous…for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (NIV)

Well, today was a rainy day and a Monday. And while under normal circumstances that wouldn't bother me, today was different. It started as an ordinary Monday. As usual, my two youngest boys and I moved like sluggards to get up and eat breakfast. We began our school day in our pajamas and eventually, after completing Math and Language Arts ate lunch and got dressed. We finished up a little late and ran to the library to return some books and pick up my oldest son. Upon returning home, the telephone rang. I was quite pleased when I saw on the caller ID that it was my Dad calling, but my joy turned to dread as I heard the voice on the other end of the line. It was not my Dad calling after all, but his wife. While this may seem of no consequence, it is quite significant because I have endured a rather estranged relationship with my Dad since my teenage years, and as a result I don't know his wife except to have briefly met her. So she would not be calling if not to share concerning news. In fact, the last time I remember receiving a phone call from her is three years ago when my Dad had just successfully undergone liver transplant surgery. Anyway, my trepidation had not deceived me. She was calling to inform me of my Dad's passing.

As the news of Dad’s death began to settle in my mind I naturally felt a deep sadness for not seeing him in the previous three years. I had hoped to visit his Sunshine State soon and take the four children to meet their grandfather for the first time, but you know how life has a way of usurping even the best intentions.

The Lord knows just what we need and when. A few hours after receiving the dreaded phone call, I read the following excerpt from Hinds Feet in High Places by Hannah Hurnard:

As Christians we know...that in the life of a child of God there are no second causes, that even the most unjust and cruel things, as well as all seemingly pointless and undeserved sufferings, have been permitted by God as a glorious opportunity for us to re-act to them in such a way that our Lord and Saviour is able to produce in us, little by little, His own lovely character.

This served as a gentle reminder to me that the Lord’s plans are the best-laid plans. He has used these past three years of Dad’s illness to His glory and my growth of character. As the day’s pass, travel looms and emotions ebb and tide, I pray that God gives me the grace and strength to re-act in these present circumstances in such a way that I exemplify His own lovely character.

Following is the obituary as written by Brenda J. Vavrina:

James Martin Vavrina, 57, of Sun City Center, died on February 20, 2009 at Tampa General Hospital. Jim is survived by his wife, Brenda; mother-in-law, Barbara Bullard; stepdaughter and her husband, Heather and Tom Clary; sister, Marilyn Zabinski; son, Timothy; daughter, Stephanie; and several grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Jim received an honorable discharge from the US Army and retired from the Department of Defense as a Computer Network Security Specialist. After 9/11 he worked around the clock responsible for getting the computers up and running in the Pentagon. Jim and his wife moved to Sun City Center in May 2007 where he served as President of the Amateur Radio Club and on the Board of Directors for the Arbor Glen Homeowners Association. Jim was an honored member of Who's Who Worldwide in the 1992/93 Platinum Edition of the Who's Who Registry. He will be remembered as a brave sweet soul with a generous heart who loved life.

(c) 2009 by Stephanie French