This has been a really hard post to write. Last Wednesday a dear friend of ours lost her battle with cancer and peacefully graduated to heaven. It was too soon....so fast.....we weren't ready....already Lord? We didn't get to say goodbye.
Debbie had battled terminal, inoperable(those were the doctor's words) cancer for the last 16 months and we in their small group from church have walked the journey with her and her family of men(husband and three sons). Today we stood in the rain at the graveside as they lowered her coffin into the ground....and then we celebrated her life at the Memorial Service.
Oh how the tears flowed but in the midst of it all, we were reminded of one of Debbie's favorite verses:
My heart is steadfast, O God,
My heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make music.(Psalm 57:7)
Debbie was an amazing pianist who loved to worship. And in walking the journey she taught us how to live.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name.....
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
And when the darkness closes in Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Belssed be Your glorious name.
Debbie loved music so there was a lot of it today at the service. It wasn't always easy to sing, but what a good reminder to all of us of the reality of heaven...it's only just a breath away. And today Debbie is singing and dancing with the angels....
My chains are gone I've been set free
My God my Saviour has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Undending love amazing grace.
Aufwiedersehen Debbie! I'll see you on the other side.
5 comments:
We didn't have school this afternoon in leiu of the funeral. I think your post caputred very well the mix of joy and sorrow felt during a loved ones passing.
I have been praying for their family, and for you with the passing of a friend.
I was glad to hear the service went well.
Thank you for expressing your thoughts in this beautiful well written post.
EM
Oh dear Doris! It is so painful to watch a loved one suffer. You have said so beautifully that the reality of heaven is only a breath away! May the Holy Spirit comfort you as only He can!
I read yesterday that our definition of bad is not the same as God's. God knows the ending . . . He has not only read our stroy, but He has written it. He will perfect that which concerns Him. (Ps 138:8)
"Aufwiedersehen" is the reality we cling to. You expressed it beautifully.
Ah Doris thank you for sharing your love for Debbie and her family so beautifully. She is singing now in a way she could never imagine while leading others down here. What a wonderful hope we have in Jesus. Our prayer for comfort is with the men left behind.
Oh Doris, I am so sorry to read about your friend. My grandmother passed away from cancer (now a while ago) and I remember thinking it was fast.
But in some ways it wasn't since she was in pain. As heart broken as I was, I took comfort in that she was no longer suffering and knowing her of course she was in a better place!
To have a friend like you, I am sure the same can be said of your friend.
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