Quietly....

We "do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope." I Thessalonians 4:13

August 1, 2016

Quietly she left us.

Her breathing slowed
and tapered in its depth

until it was no more.

We watched in awe.

It was a holy moment.

Our joy in her release from 

the prison of her deteriorated mind and helpless body

well balances the sadness of realizing 

her physical presence is no longer with us.

A Wake-Up Call

our wheelbarrow

“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.”

-John Wesley

While we were outside working on our wreaths yesterday (see prior post), sirens sounded and a great many emergency vehicles beat a path on the road in front of our house.  So unusual and intense it was that my husband  got in the car to see what was going on!  He returned to say he saw the car flattened on the roadside.  While he was gone from the house, a medical helicopter flew over, and I said a silent prayer.

This morning my husband was still on the internet where he found out that an 85 year old woman was the victim of the accident (name being withheld) when he received a text message identifying her.  The woman was on the "Home Improvement" list at our church.  We were scheduled to help spread some stone/gravel on her driveway this Saturday morning at 8:00. (She didn't attend our church and I didn't know her, but a member of our church had "nominated" her to be served by our willing workers.)

Within the very hour of  the fatal accident, a friend and I were making our plans to meet, load a wheelbarrow and rakes, and ride together to join the others on Saturday morning.  Needless to say, God got my attention!  I'm sobered by the uncertainty of life and the necessity of "doing all the good I can...as SOON as I can!"

Some things just cannot be passed off as "coincidental".

Let There Be Light!

 On the mantle, the lighted Christmas tree I created at ceramic shop this year and a child's cupboard with a small collection of sheep...

 

 We also hung a garland and lights on the staircase...Eight stockings remain to be hung here (they don't fit on the mantle).

In addition to the Christmas story found in Matthew 1& 2 and Luke 2, the first chapter of John has its own angle--beginning "in the beginning"!

"...In him was life, and that life was the LIGHT of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it...The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world...to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." (John 1:4-5,12)

Darkness still doesn't understand light!  Oh that men and women, boys and girls may believe and receive Jesus today.  May every beautiful light of the season point to the True Light;  every carol sing of His coming;  every gift exchanged point to His salvation!

By the way, are you a strictly white light person or do you like multiple colors?  Large bulbs or small?

Mary

A dear friend is gone. She suffered bravely, trustingly, and much too long. Her table where we gathered for Bible study will be long remembered. Her example of grace throughout major changes in life will continue to speak. Her love of family - sons, daughters, grandchildren and "greats"- carried her far. Their love for her was poured out unselfishly. Beautiful soft skin and those carefully manicured fingernails were with her to the end of life here. Her eyes must be twinkling again as she takes in the wonder of Heaven. But our eyes will tear until our hearts catch up with the realization that she is free at last! Her funeral was yesterday. Skies were blue. Songs and Scripture combined to comfort and lift our hearts.