JOURNEY'S END

Reflections from the day my precious Grandmother went home.

Today began like any other non-eventful day although it certainly did not end that way. Life sometimes has a way of doing that and usually when we least expect it. While sitting at home writing I received a phone call that my grandmother was in the emergency room being given CPR. As I rushed to the hospital to be with her and my family all I could think of was how I was supposed to have gone to visit her over the weekend but didn't make it. I'll go on Monday I told myself. Monday came, life happened and still there was no visit.

There's always tomorrow.

I arrived to a scene that pained my heart deeply. A team of doctors and nurses stood over my grandmother desperately working to revive her. Two weeks earlier she had knee replacement surgery and was moved to rehabilitation. During her therapy session this morning she passed out. We soon discovered she had a blood clot.

Waiting outside her trauma room stood her 3 remaining children including my father. Each of them at different times had been to see her yesterday. One by one they recalled their time with her and smiles lit up their faces. They all commented on how good she looked, how happy she was and what a wonderful visit they'd had with their mother. I was so grateful for the time they had with her and that their final memory of their mother was one that brought sweet smiles to each of their faces.

In Ecclesiastes the Bible speaks of their being "a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." Once during my quiet time with the Lord I meditated on this verse and thought of how each of these emotions are but a second from the other. I was reminded of this today. The day began with laughter and suddenly turned to weeping.

Must it take death to remind us to truly value each day without an expectation there will be a tomorrow? For ourselves and for those we hold dear? Tomorrow came for me to visit my grandmother but not like I expected or hoped.

I wish I could've told her what she meant to me.

I wish I could've thanked her again for taking me to church with her as a little girl.

I wish I could've thanked her for her beautiful example of trusting Jesus till the very end.

In truth my grandmother didn't die; she went home. She was given 85 years and I was blessed to be a part of 35 of them. My grandmother loved Jesus and her faith was firmly fixed on that. My grandmother fought a good fight, she finished her course and she kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

In honor of my grandmother:

Thank you for giving to the Lord

I am a life that was changed

Thank you for giving to the Lord

I am so glad you gave.

Lyrics to Thank You by Ray Boltz