In Celebration of a Life

 

 

Today . . . October 12 we would be celebrating my dad's 80th Birthday

 had he lived to see this day.

The Lord took him home at the age of 74 and I can say  . . .

with the words of a favorite song by Chris Tomlin . . .  that all is well.

There’s a peace I’ve come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There’s an anchor for my soul
I can say “It is well”
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
Chorus:
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise
There’s a day that’s drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes.
 

This week we gathered once more as an extended family
on my H's side to celebrate the life of our dear sister-in-law, Susie.
 She has joined the crowd of witnesses
cheering us on to finish our race well.



She leaves to mourn five children with spouses
 nine grand-children - some newly  married -
and her loving husband, George.
 To see him commit her back
 to the One who gave her to him more than fifty years ago . . .
was to witness a moment of a trust and surrender
that words cannot express.

Many times I wondered why God was not answering our prayers for her healing.
 Why did she have to suffer for so long?
On this day I may have seen a glimpse of the reason
as I heard her grandchildren rise up and share of the impact she has had on them
 . . . from the oldest to the youngest there came a sense of deep respect
for her non-judgmental, yet always honest, loving support,
Putting aside her own pain, she made each one of them feel
like they were all that mattered.
  

Her deep love for her family and God has impacted
us all in ways that time will continue to prove.
I've been challenged to be the kind of grandmother she was . . .
Holding on to faith . . . and never giving up in the things
that will matter in the end.