Business of Life and Death
Today I am thinking about the people around me who are experiencing the death of loved ones. My friend’s mother died on Monday and I went to the viewing on Wednesday night. Her Mom had just passed her 91st birthday. There were a lot of people at the funeral home which was surprising to me because some friends are long gone. She had two daughters and a son, numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. I was very touched by my friend’s love for her Mother, she kept whispering to her how much she loved her and patted her hair as if she was still there. I know my friend knows that her mother is being welcomed by all the angels in Heaven and has already been told, “Welcome Home” by Jesus and this day is a celebration of her life for those of us still around.
Another friend is preparing her children for their father’s death. There has been no arrangements made as he is still on life support. The hope is that he will live. So much anguish – all the regrets and guilt feelings – if they had only talked to one another. There is hope that can still be done. I see the value of talking even when the children don’t want to hear about dying. Even the young can experience death. As a young mother, my first baby died and it was horrible for me. Someone who had never experienced any death and had to go through it without family. God has been very gracious and given me a large family today and I pray that they will read this post and think about this time with me. I hope they don’t think that it won’t happen to me, but are prepared and will remember that I want to be with Jesus. I want them to be there also when their time comes. The scripture says, “Today is the day of salvation”, so help the chldren to hear the word of the Lord.
hpygolky said,
October 11, 2008 at 4:27 am
As much as I don’t want to think about it, I do. And even as I type this tears come very freely. I hate that I’m so very far away, and yet in ways our “phone” relationship is very special. I have you all to myself. When I am there or when you have been here everybody demands our time. At least on the phone, its usually just us. I want to assure you that I will be There, waiting for you or anticipating seeing you again. You have been a wonderful mother, grandmother and a cherished friend and mentor. As much as I fought as a teenager to break free from your hold on me, and wanted to be so different. I now embrace those traits and gifts you passed down to me, down to my handwriting that looks so much like yours now. It must have been those early years of practicing signing your name in order to forge report cards or whatever else I needed your signature for. Of couse, I was never successful then, but maybe now I could get away with it. I know you have longed to do great things for God and find your “purpose” in life. Oftentimes, when we are doing the measuring we fall very short, but since, for this blog comment, I’m doing the measuring, and I give you an A+. All the papers are yet to be graded, but I believe as the pages of the lives you’ve touched are turned into the Lord, it will be a resounding passing grade. You will hear “well done my good and faithful hand-maiden of the Lord”. I know I have told you before, but THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for bringing me to Jesus, our precious Savior. I get shivers thinking about being in the World without Him in my life. What a legacy you have given your children, your grandchildren and your great grandchildren. The Lord promises that “you and your whole household shall be saved”. Anyway, just my way of saying just how much I love and appreciate you. You are the “bomb”!!