You know how you see those bumper stickers that say, "God is my copilot?" I saw one yesterday and I started to think. You know, I don't want God to be my copilot- I want him to be my pilot. I visualize myself on the plane with him as I sort of flight attendant. I have the awesome job of letting God drive while I get to walk up and down the aisles and serve His people. My job is really important but at least I don't have to pilot the whole mission. That's God's job.
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Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
God loved my Grandma Betty
Philippians 1:21-26 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
This verse is such a comfort now that my grandma is gone. She is really there in heaven with Jesus right now. It still doesn't seem real that she's never coming back and that she really made it to the other side. She must have had the best reunion ever with her parents, parents-in-law, and friends who had gone before. Now she has gone before us to help God prepare rooms for us when we get there and see her again.
I find comfort in knowing that she is now healthy and free to do all the things she loves, with no physical restrictions. She has all the energy she wanted to have on earth to knit, bake, sing, sew, give and love.
She was a beautiful woman in life and she has left a beautiful legacy for her family and friends. I learned so much from her and valued the moments we shared. Her zest for life and love for others kept her smiling in any situation. She was a warrior who didn't give up on anything. She had a capacity to love everyone like her own children. She considered the nurse at her doctor's office just as important as her friends in her crochet class or the teacher in her Sunday School. She would talk about her friends in a way that made it clear that she was PROUD of them. Her family never doubted the love and pride she had for them. Our individual accomplishments became new jewels in her own treasure chest.
Knowing that is what made her passing so much easier. There were no loose ends to tie, no need to say things that hadn't been said to her in life. God showed up in so many ways during our last week with her. God's miracles abounded. My uncles both made it here from out-of-state in time to see her before she could no longer communicate. Everyone was here in town when she passed. God's hand was so evident in everything. Wednesday, in particular, was a special gift to me. I woke up that morning with God's voice clearly telling me to leave work at 3 PM. It turned out to be the last day I would be able to converse with my grandma. My sister and I were able to spend a whole hour with grandma, talking, smiling, and laughing the day before she would pass away. It was a parting gift from Jesus.
The next night it looks like grandma was going to go and we were preparing ourselves for it. That afternoon we got a surprise when grandma opened her eyes. She had the chance to talk to her sons and her daughters. They talked to her and she smiled and even laughed. That was the last time she would be awake and that is the last memory I have of her. It makes so much sense that it would be of her laughing.
She never had pain – not for a moment. God loved her so much. That very night her hospice nurse sensed the end was coming and told Grandpa to just hold her hand. He did and he told her you loved her. She squeezed his hand. He told her he left her again and she was gone. My cousin, Marlie, was there in a moment to hug him as he cried. What a wonderful God we have. Who else could we lean on in a time of trouble and feel peace, comfort, love, and light? He blessed every moment we had with grandma in life and now in death as we remember her and hold on tighter to God.
As we build a new life with grandpa, we keep her in mind. It will be hard. Everything reminds me of her. What a blessing that I have so many gifts from her: the gift of character-faith, joy, love; the gift of memories- I lived with her for for almost 9 months; the gift of handmade items- scarves, afghans, a sweater, hats; the gift of items she loved and gave to me- jewelry, dishes, pillows, her sewing machine.
I will always carry her memory in my heart and know that I had a beautiful and rare relationship with my grandma- a gift many grandchildren don't receive.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
This verse is such a comfort now that my grandma is gone. She is really there in heaven with Jesus right now. It still doesn't seem real that she's never coming back and that she really made it to the other side. She must have had the best reunion ever with her parents, parents-in-law, and friends who had gone before. Now she has gone before us to help God prepare rooms for us when we get there and see her again.
I find comfort in knowing that she is now healthy and free to do all the things she loves, with no physical restrictions. She has all the energy she wanted to have on earth to knit, bake, sing, sew, give and love.
She was a beautiful woman in life and she has left a beautiful legacy for her family and friends. I learned so much from her and valued the moments we shared. Her zest for life and love for others kept her smiling in any situation. She was a warrior who didn't give up on anything. She had a capacity to love everyone like her own children. She considered the nurse at her doctor's office just as important as her friends in her crochet class or the teacher in her Sunday School. She would talk about her friends in a way that made it clear that she was PROUD of them. Her family never doubted the love and pride she had for them. Our individual accomplishments became new jewels in her own treasure chest.
Knowing that is what made her passing so much easier. There were no loose ends to tie, no need to say things that hadn't been said to her in life. God showed up in so many ways during our last week with her. God's miracles abounded. My uncles both made it here from out-of-state in time to see her before she could no longer communicate. Everyone was here in town when she passed. God's hand was so evident in everything. Wednesday, in particular, was a special gift to me. I woke up that morning with God's voice clearly telling me to leave work at 3 PM. It turned out to be the last day I would be able to converse with my grandma. My sister and I were able to spend a whole hour with grandma, talking, smiling, and laughing the day before she would pass away. It was a parting gift from Jesus.
The next night it looks like grandma was going to go and we were preparing ourselves for it. That afternoon we got a surprise when grandma opened her eyes. She had the chance to talk to her sons and her daughters. They talked to her and she smiled and even laughed. That was the last time she would be awake and that is the last memory I have of her. It makes so much sense that it would be of her laughing.
She never had pain – not for a moment. God loved her so much. That very night her hospice nurse sensed the end was coming and told Grandpa to just hold her hand. He did and he told her you loved her. She squeezed his hand. He told her he left her again and she was gone. My cousin, Marlie, was there in a moment to hug him as he cried. What a wonderful God we have. Who else could we lean on in a time of trouble and feel peace, comfort, love, and light? He blessed every moment we had with grandma in life and now in death as we remember her and hold on tighter to God.
As we build a new life with grandpa, we keep her in mind. It will be hard. Everything reminds me of her. What a blessing that I have so many gifts from her: the gift of character-faith, joy, love; the gift of memories- I lived with her for for almost 9 months; the gift of handmade items- scarves, afghans, a sweater, hats; the gift of items she loved and gave to me- jewelry, dishes, pillows, her sewing machine.
I will always carry her memory in my heart and know that I had a beautiful and rare relationship with my grandma- a gift many grandchildren don't receive.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Happy New Year!
Happy new year! I am starting this new year with a fresh outlook on life. I feel that God has truly taught me the meaning of the word "redemption". 2012 was the year I was redeemed. I was a broken, useless vessel but God healed me of my brokenness so I could now be a vessel to be used for His purpose. My mission is different, my priorities are different, my perspective is eternal.
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5: 15-17
God has revealed to me what my life purpose is and it has shaped my daily perspective. I don't have to wander about, lost or tossed about in the waves of chaos that are easily a part of my world (in my job, my relationships, etc). When I wake up in the morning I remember that my life purpose is to give God glory and to do His will, whatever that may be for the day. Amazing how suddenly life becomes an adventure with my God when I am able to think this way.
Don't get me wrong – I have yet to perfect this. I have my bad days, too. But they don't last as long and even in the midst of them I know what God's promise is and I can rely on that to get me through.
Praise Jesus!
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5: 15-17
God has revealed to me what my life purpose is and it has shaped my daily perspective. I don't have to wander about, lost or tossed about in the waves of chaos that are easily a part of my world (in my job, my relationships, etc). When I wake up in the morning I remember that my life purpose is to give God glory and to do His will, whatever that may be for the day. Amazing how suddenly life becomes an adventure with my God when I am able to think this way.
Don't get me wrong – I have yet to perfect this. I have my bad days, too. But they don't last as long and even in the midst of them I know what God's promise is and I can rely on that to get me through.
Praise Jesus!
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