Thank You and Some Other Thoughts (originally posted on FB but added to the blog)

(Originally posted on Facebook)

July 7, 2017

Thank you to everyone who took a moment to post condolences, prayers, thoughts, or stories about my mom.

This is a very surreal time right now and the shock is beginning to wear off. 

Even though my mom's battle with her health issues had been going on for a few years and 2 years ago the doctors said she would only have 18 months left, I was never fully prepared for her actual last breath here.

Her actual exit from this world…

...never to be seen again on this earth.  (that fact is going to take awhile to sink in)

Last Wednesday, June 28th...

I was faced with the reality that my mom was entering her last days and 

I 

could

not 

stop

it.

I HAD to face the inevitable.

It was so painful and frightening to think about, to be honest. 

But there was NO turning back.

I wanted to stay by her side until that last moment. 

I did not want her to be scared. 

Or anxious. 

Or alone.

But here’s the REALITY that I was reminded of OVER and OVER these last few days…

…Mom was READY.

She was 

READY 

to 

LIVE!

To be FREE from the chains of this life!

She had stated multiple times that she was ready to see Jesus. 

In fact, as she was in a semi-responsive state, when I asked if she was ready to see Jesus, she opened her eyes wide and excitedly asked...

“When?” 

I told her she would see Him when God was ready to bring her Home. 

She smiled and then closed her eyes to rest. 

A couple of weeks earlier when I was explaining hospice care to her, I told her that if she chose this option she would be seeing Jesus sooner. 

She once again, opened her eyes and joyously asked...

“Really?!” 

And then closed her eyes to rest.

Her body was SO tired. 

It simply could NOT keep up anymore.

BUT her spirit was READY to soar! 

It was READY to FLY to JESUS 

...and LIVE!

She was NOT scared. 

NOT anxious.

NOT alone.

She had the Holy Spirit WITH her.

She was anticipating her Homegoing.

Can you EVEN imagine?

The HOPE she had was INCREDIBLE!

She had NO fear of leaving this earth.

but 

ONLY the HOPE of ETERNITY in HEAVEN.

And God blessed me with the gift of witnessing my mom's very last breath here.

It was the MOST DIFFICULT thing I have EVER witnessed...

yet the MOST BEAUTIFUL.

While I’m grieving the loss of my mom’s physical presence from this world,

I am rejoicing in the fact that she is finally seeing Jesus face to face…

and probably wearing the 

size 7 robe 

she ALWAYS said she wanted in heaven. Ha! Ha!

Be blessed and encouraged!