I sense and see that I write a lot about life's troubles and sadnesses. My intent is to encourage you somehow in the midst of such issues. I think that when we go through such sorrow it changes us in profound ways. I hope that because of my experiences with the death of my son, in particular, doesn't discourage you or take you down into a depression. These are life events, everyone must endure loss, challenges and difficulties == that's just life.
The Bible tells us that NOTHING touches us that God doesn't ordain. That has helped me so much over many, many years. Surely if God has allowed it in my life, He has reason and a plan in that process. I want to go through it WITH Him, and not struggle and fight it all the way. I want to accept His will for me with grace and hope.
Yesterday I was sharing Christ with a friend who, as she told me, has no faith. It was a great conversation and she now has the full gospel. It is hard for her to believe in something/ someone she cannot see. She doesn't care if that if she died last night there would be nothing more than that. She doesn't care if she isn't in heaven, because I am the only person she knows who she cares about that is a christian and since I'm not dead yet, she wouldn't have any friends in heaven anyway! (Now that was something I had never had said to me before). LOL I had to regroup for a moment.
I shared something with her that I realized would be an encouragement for those who might read my blog today. She knows about Jeff and his MS and feels so badly for me that he died. She also knows that I believe he is in heaven and will see him again.
I told her about the day before he died. He was pasty white, yellowish, gaunt from the weight loss, out of it. (and he had been blind for quite some time). At any rate, I went into visit him that day and the hospice worker, John, was in visiting as well as Jeff's dad. Jeff would go in and out of sleep. He woke up and I said hello to him. Hi Ma! Chuck said hey Jeff...Hi dad...oh.. ma? Yes.. dad? yes.. WOW both of you in the same room!! we all laughed.
Noticing him looking at the wall, I asked him what he could see...(hospice workers tell you that when a patient is looking around and up in particular they see people who may be bringing over to the other side). He responded that he could see something on the wall but didn't know what it was. (His friends had made huge posters with photos of their life expriences with him all over them...took up the entire length of the bed)....I said its photographs of you and your pals, family and son with you. Oh that's nice he said. Then I realized that he could SEE! I went to the end of his bed and said hey jeff i'm at the end of your bed, can you see me? He looked down at me and said YEAH, MA...I CAN SEE THAT BLONDE HAIR OF YOURS! Oh my gosh, tears streamed down my face as they did on Chuck's and the hospice worker, John. YIKES...HE CAN SEE!
Eventually John and Chuck left and I sat with Jeff as he came in and out of sleep. I just talked to him while he slept and prayed over him until he woke up again. After a while I noticed that he looked 'better' somehow. I realized he wasn't so gaunt and that he had color in his face and rosy cheeks! What is going on...he can see, he looks better..wow. Then he woke up and opened his eyes...when people are blind their eyes get a hazy look because they do not move them. BOOM! I had bright green eyes looking at me; all clear. I was just amazed at this.
What is going on? My belief is that God was restoring Jeff and beginning the healing which would be completed once he was with Jesus. I can't tell you what a blessing it was for me that day to witness this. I'm smiling right now...that is how I get to remember Jeff....clear eyed and seeing, his ruddy complexion and as always his sense of humor. Thank you, Lord.
**
Another situation I told my friend about was regarding Chuck's mother, Olive. She lived with us after her stroke and came to Idaho when we moved here. This little lady had had a very hard life, full of hard work, and little joy. He was a feisty little thing who cut her own grass, was athe treasurer for the grange, went on trips with her golden 50 club, played pinochole with her 'girlfriends' of many moons. But she never wanted to hear about Jesus. Not interested, nope, nada. She was not a lady you saw smile very often, she was grim and sad looking all the years I knew her. I have only one picture of her with a smile on her face in over 35 years.
She became ill up here in Idaho...she was ready to die. She didn't want to go to the hospital or eat. She was 88 years old...and unsaved. I told Chuck he better go visit with her and tell her about Jesus one more time...so he did. And she accepted Christ. She fell asleep that night and was dead in the morning. Chuck came and got me and I went into her bedroom with him.
The lady I saw there had such a beautiful countenance I cannot even express it to you in words. She was at peace...how do you see peace? Hard to describe. This is what I saw: my mother-in-law resting with a sweet smile on her face. What joy that was to know that Jesus had restored her and brought her home and again, what a gift to SEE for me.
God is good. Like I told my friend, because of many such situations in my life over 35 years of being a Christian, no one can tell me God isn't real. I know He lives and loves me. I know I will be forever with Him and those who set their hope and faith in Him. I told her I would like to be with her forever too....it's her choice.
BE ENCOURAGED in EVERY situation...HE IS WITH YOU!
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