I want to remind everyone out there how blessed they really are. I don't know every one's life situation, but I promise that there are things in your life that you should be giving thanks for.
I was reminded of this fact today as I watched a little girl dance her heart out who was oblivious that her life was changing drastically at that exact moment. She didn't know it, but the doctors had just announced that her mother would most likely not make it through the day. While she was dancing to "Shake It", smiling, and laughing with her friends, the doctors were looking at the results of her mother's MRI and telling family how swollen and shifted her brain was. They said it was only a matter of hours before God took her to live with Him in eternity. Wow. I watched her smile and laugh and wondered after she left there today how long it would be before those emotions returned to her. I pray it's soon because I know that her mother would want her to be be happy each and every day. To live a full life surrounded by her sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and friends. She and her sisters were her mom's life. I hope that I can be a part of reminding her and her 3 sisters (11, 8, and twin 3 year olds) how much their mother loved them. How proud she was, and how much she enjoyed watching them dance.
Death is surrounding us everywhere. My cousin is visiting this weekend on, most likely, his last trip to see St. James...you see, he is dying of liver disease. He knows that it's only a matter of time (as it is for all of us). We will have a family dinner tomorrow night, visit, share stories, talk about future plans, and take lots of pictures. It will be nice for most of the family to be together again...a time to celebrate my cousin's 39th birthday, and visit with him.
Although at most times in my life I will claim that I am not afraid of death. That I know it is inevitable, and that I actually look forward to it (in an odd way). This is because I know that I'm headed for Heaven to live beside the King of Kings forever. Forever is a LONG time as the Veggie Tales will tell you (much longer than a tuna sandwich will last in the refrigerator according to Larry!). I will get to see my two babies waiting for me, my grandfather, and many, many others. But...when it seems I'm surrounded by it on all sides, I get that gross feeling in the pit of my stomach and I silently cry out to God for the peace that I usually am filled with.
Now I just have to let Him fill me with it again.
1 comment:
That's a lot to process. I am sorry for the greif you are feeling. Its a lot of emotional weight to carry around, being a teacher and being a family member. I know you have a positive effect on so many and that your encouragement will lift spirits.
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