For you who have been faithful to check in here over the years and who know our story, you know that May 7 is the date that we lost our daughter, Anna. I have written here elsewhere about the differences between March 29 (her birthday) and May 7 (the day she died). Obviously, they will evoke different memories–some happy, some sad–but the calendar makes the dates different as well. When we remember Anna’s birthday we are always in the burgeoning days of spring. Flowers are blooming. Easter is on the horizon. We are in the midst of so many signs of hope. May 7, on the other hand, comes after those days of hope have gone by. The hot days of summer are approaching. Perhaps most significantly, May 7 always comes in the week preceding Mother’s Day. That fact has always made for an awkward and difficult Sunday. Over the years, Timberley and I, along with Sam and now his wife, Grace, have found ways to celebrate Mother’s Day that are positive and hopeful, but there is always a yearning in the eyes and heart of Timberley on that day. As time goes on, however, the pain continues to change. It softens in some ways. It deepens in others. But time does go on, and for that we can give thanks.
Some time ago, we made you all aware of a scholarship fund we established in Anna’s name at Southeastern Seminary. It was established to support international students studying at SEBTS. Donations have been going toward the permanent funding of the endowed scholarship. We are getting very close to having that endowment fully funded so that it will continue supporting students in perpetuity. In the meantime, we have also been making some funds available for students while we await funding from the permanent fund. (If this all sounds confusing, it was for us as well!)
I did not get permission from the student to share her name, but I did want to share that the first student has been receiving help from Anna’ s scholarship this past year. She and her sister moved to North Carolina a few years back to study here. I still remember well their first semester, as they both were in my Old Testament course. It was January and they had just moved from Pakistan. They always came to class bundled from head to toe in heavy coats. When all the other students took off their jackets, the two sisters said it was far too cold to take them off. But they stuck with it and have succeeded. The funds given to one of the two is helping her to graduate in the near future. It has been exciting to watch her growth during her time here in North Carolina.
I want to say thank you on behalf of this student for the help you have given by supporting the scholarship. I also want to say thank you from myself, Timberley, Sam and Grace, for helping us remember Anna in this meaningful way.
Blessings to you all.
Anna Resurget 