It is NEVER easy to say goodbye to a loved one. Regardless
of the situation, we harbor the hope that they will get better. We can’t
imagine our lives without their smile, laughter, and love. And that is what
breaks our hearts.
For months, I’ve watched my Mamaw suffer. A disease,
which affected her brain, took her away from me. She no longer remembered my
name, my children, or even that she was my Mamaw. But God blessed us to share
smiles, and glimpses of understanding— every once in awhile.
As I stayed with her in the hospital, I witnessed her
strength. Even though she suffered greatly, she didn’t complain. She handled it
all with such grace. Once when she couldn’t even talk she hummed, and I knew that
God was comforting her.
Then we got the call that all families dread; the one
where they explain the options and then talk about precious time. We all have
an appointed time with death. And nothing can stop it. Not even love or
prayers. As I sat in her room and watched her fade away, I thought about life
and death. In that moment, nothing about this world mattered. Money, education,
friends, or family could not stop it from happening. When we near the end of
this life, all that truly matters is our soul, and where we chose to spend
eternity.
We always think we have more time. One moment we might
be just fine, and in the next instant, the doctors might be telling our family
that we won’t make it through the day. We don’t have the promise of tomorrow or
even the next breath. Now is the time to get things fixed with God. We are all
just passing through this world. It’s not our home. This is the place where we
get ready for Eternity. And He lets us decide. That is the most powerful decision
we will ever make. Somewhere, at some time in our life, we will realize just
how badly we need God. In our dying hour, will He embrace us as we have
embraced Him, or turn away from us as we turned away from Him?
Even though my heart broke as my Mamaw passed away,
my heart also rejoiced for her. My tears and grief are for me, not her. Nothing
or no one can ever hurt her again. She is resting in the arms of the Lord. She
chose God, and He was with her—until the very end of her natural life. Now she
will spend Eternity with Him. And that makes me so happy.
While I may not have all the answers or completely understand
it all, I do know that this verse comforts me.
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5 KJV
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
May God bless you,
Candida