Bittersweet

Today was a bittersweet day. Our dear friend, Clarice, went Home to meet the Lord this morning around 9 a.m. Although it is not a shock that it happened - we have been waiting for it to happen for about a month now - we still are sad to have her gone. It is bitter because she is like a family member to us - a grandmother to Matt, a mother to his mom, and a dear friend. She was such a sweet lady who did not demand much. She lived a simple life, and took great pleasure in even the simplest things such as having a "cup of tea" and chatting with a friend. So it is hard to have to say good-bye. But, at the same time, it is sweet because she is now pain free. She is in the most wonderful Place, with the most wonderful Person. She has the privilege of seeing our Lord face to face. And, she is reunited with her husband. What a reunion that must have been! So we are so happy for her!

The Lord answered our prayers in that it was a very peaceful going. She woke up this morning, having trouble breathing. So the nurses decided to give her a bath, thinking it would make her a bit more comfortable. My mother in-law was called, being told that she was having trouble breathing, so she went to the hospital right away. She got there while they were bathing Clarice, so they asked her to wait. As soon as they were done, they called my mom-in-law in and the nurses left for a minute. When my mom-in-law walked in, she felt her chest and did not feel any breathing. Then, my father-in-law walked in with the nurse, and they knew right away that she was gone. I am glad that it was not a prolonged thing.

You know, we really do not know what it is like to die. We hear stories from those that are at the bedside of people who are dying, and things that they say and do. I have been thinking today what it was like for Clarice. For the last few days, she kept asking my mom-in-law if she heard the music playing. My mom-in-law heard nothing. I wonder if she heard glorious music from heaven, welcoming her Home. My mom-in-law said that Clarice would sometimes look around at something that was not really in the room, and reach out every so often, as if trying to grab something. I wonder if she was reaching out to Jesus, who was welcoming her Home. There is no way we can know what she was seeing or hearing, but what a neat thing to think about. How neat to think that, perhaps, she was laying in that lonely hospital bed, and looked up and saw the beautiful face of the Lord Jesus, with His arms open, calling her Home.

The viewing will be on Sunday, and the funeral service is on Monday. Please pray for my father-in-law as he is doing the services. Matt is a palbearer. I think I told you that one of Clarice's daughters came last week to see her and told her mother that she loved her. But the other daughter still refused. When they called to tell her that her mother passed away, she said she wasn't going to come to the funeral, but was "sending a list" of stuff she wants. Pretty much everything is in the will to go to my in-laws, so pray that there is not a big ordeal over that. It could be simple, or it could get ugly. My heart still aches to think that, even to the last day, the daughter refused to reconcile with her mother. It amazes me how deep the roots of bitterness can grow. How sad for the daughter. She could not see the treasure of a mother she had, and now it is too late. What a good reminder that is to all of us to not let things go too far, to "let not the sun go down on our wrath." We need to cherish these moments we have now with our family, because we do not know how long we will have with them.

So, we have had a bittersweet day. Please pray for our family, especially my in-laws, as we go through the funeral this weekend, and all that needs to be done with Clarice's house, belongings, etc.

Until next time...