Almost two weeks ago I wrote a post entitled, In Everything Give Thanks. At the time of that post, I shared a difficulty that I was experiencing and how I was able to be thankful through that experience. At the time, I had no idea what was ahead for our family, but I do know that we have a Rock to stand on and we will stand firm no matter what.
The Phone Call
I knew that something was wrong, his voice and the two words he spoke confirmed it…
It was Wednesday, December 11, 2013. Dr. Tassin and I were having lunch at a restaurant near our office discussing things that we could do through our office to help our patients. As we chatted, his phone rang. Now that is not an uncommon occurrence, but the caller was. It was my husband calling his phone because he couldn’t get through on mine. Usually he will just leave me a voice mail and I call back when I get it. This was different, before I took the phone I knew that something was wrong, his voice and the two words he spoke confirmed it, Momma’s dead… I was in shock. I had to make him repeat himself because I couldn’t believe my ears. He repeated himself and said his dad had just called him and told him. I looked at Doc and told him I had to leave. We quickly headed back to the office so I could get my car and go to be with my husband’s family.
Going Through the Motions
The events of the rest of the day are a bit of a blur to me because there was so much going on. Going through the motions of finding a funeral home and life insurance papers were all part of that afternoon. Then, how am I going to tell my children that Maw Maw is gone? My heart sank. They loved Maw Maw even though they didn’t get to spend lots of time with her. I remember having to tell my daughter a classmate passed away, this was someone much closer… We decided to wait until we were home from school, homework was done, and Daddy had made it home from his parent’s house. As we sat down, my heart sank because I knew that we were going to break our children’s hearts and I could do nothing to prevent it. They cried, we cried, then, we talked about how Maw Maw is in Heaven now. They took it better than we thought. The next few days were a whirlwind of activities preparing for the service on Sunday.
How Does This Relate?
What does this have to do with my previous post you ask…If you read it, you will remember that I said we are to be thankful in EVERYTHING. I related a story of physical pain and how to find things to be thankful for there. This is a different pain, a much deeper pain, but one that you can still find things to be thankful for in the midst of the trial. I am not thankful that she is gone, especially so close to Christmas, but I am thankful that she has no more pain. I am thankful that she died peacefully, at home. I am thankful that my children got to know her, if even only for a short while. I am thankful for the outpouring of support from the most unlikely places. I am thankful for a beautiful service surrounded by people who cared about us. I am thankful for shoulders to cry on and the warm embrace of comfort from friends and family.
Thankful for the Seasons
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a, 4 says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die;…A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” Although we will miss her, this was her season. I am thankful that it lasted for 73 years and through 5 children, my husband being the last. I am thankful that my husband and brother-in-law were able to sit with his parents one day last July, share the gospel with them and lead them to Christ so that we can have the blessed assurance that we will see her again one day in a glorified body. I am thankful that my children, even at 9 and 6, understand that Maw Maw is in Heaven with our Savior. I am thankful for the peace and comfort that can only be found in the Holy Spirit. This will be our first Christmas without Maw Maw. It will be different, but instead of mourning her death, we will celebrate her life. We will also celebrate that she has a brand new birthday, the one that started her new life in Heaven.
Reflection
Do you have that blessed assurance, comfort and peace? If not, why not let today be the day that you celebrate new life in Christ? This Christmas, as we celebrate His birthday, he has a gift for you. Whether you take it or not is up to you. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Instead of letting life’s trials get you down, 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us. Find a reason to be thankful for those trials. Remember, to everything there is a season…
From the bottom of our hearts, we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Michelle