| Good Morning Everyone, Our theme for this month: “You are loved” Our Bible verse for today: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Psalm 116:15 (NIV) Our thought for today: “God’s love is experienced in death” Yesterday our daughter Tracy died. It was only one week before that when we received the phone call telling us she had terminal cancer. That was on Tuesday. On Wednesday I flew to San Diego and began making arrangements to bring her home to Tennessee. On Thursday I took her out of the ICU, put her on an airplane, and we flew home. It was only by the grace of God that it was possible to do that. The hospital staff was very helpful by supplying us with medicines for pain, anxiety, and nausea, along with various hospital supplies. The airline personal were understanding and accommodating. Fellow travelers were exceptionally kind and helpful. We certainly felt loved and cared for and blessed. It was God’s love expressed through kind people. Tracy’s first two days home were wonderful. She rallied, felt good, was happy. She thoroughly enjoyed being with family and friends and with her two little dogs. She did some crafts with her mom (they’re both very crafty people). But then Saturday evening she started to quickly fade. We saw her going. By bedtime she was no longer talking. The last thing she did before falling asleep was to reach up, put her hand behind my head, and give me a big kiss. Then, for all practical purposes, she was gone. Those two days were an amazing gift from God. Sunday and Monday were tough days. In the rare moments she was awake, she was disoriented and unable to communicate. Linda sat with her late into the night, comforting her just by being with her. Early Tuesday morning I went in to check on her. She had the death rattle in her breathing, but I knew she could hear me. I told her I loved her and that it was okay to let go, she didn’t need to hold on anymore because soon she would be with Jesus and with grandma and grandpa and uncle Kevin. I walked back across the hall to see Linda for a few minutes. When I went back into Tracy’s room, she was gone. In those few moments she had left that tired and sick body behind and went to heaven. For us it was a painful and sad moment. We love Tracy very much and we will miss her terribly. But for God it was a time of rejoicing and celebrating. That’s what Psalm 116:15 means. That’s why Tracy’s death could be precious in God’s sight. One of His much-loved children had completed her long and difficult journey on earth and had finally arrived home in heaven. God had patiently waited 49 long years for Tracy to get there, and at 6:55 A.M on October 27, 2020 His wait was over. His child was finally home. It was a precious moment for Him and there was a celebration in heaven because of it. Surely someone there shouted, “Hey everyone, Tracy’s here!” Tracy never grew-up in this lifetime. Physically she had cerebral palsy and seizures. Mentally she had the emotional maturity of a 13 year old and the intellectual capacity of a 5 year old. Consequently, she never stopped being “Daddy’s little girl”. We will miss her very much. But the day will come when it will be our turns to pass through that moment of death and when we do, Tracy will be one of those waiting to greet us in heaven. The fact that such a reunion is even possible is a direct result of God’s great love for us. As we’ve been learning through these two months of daily devotional messages about God’s love, we get to experience and share in God’s love in many ways in this lifetime. But our greatest experience of His love for us, will occur one second after death. God Bless, Pastor Jim |
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I am so sorry for your loss. May the Lord comfort you and your wife as only He can. You are so positive and encouraging, even in your grief. I will pray the Lord continues to strengthen you and your wife.