My mom just called me at 1:20 a.m. this Wednesday morning,

to ask me if I wanted to come into the nursing home.

The nurse had called her and asked if any family

wanted to come in before she called the funeral home.

I assured Mom that I knew what happened next,

as I had helped with other’s loved ones

after they died in a nursing home in South

Carolina where I was a nurse’s aide for a year in 1980.

But I did ask her if she wanted my help.



I had prayed last year that God would help me

to learn His sovereignty,

as I had been living with doubts and fears.



God has rewarded that effort.

Call it coincidence some may, but it is too ironic

that our monthly house meeting was moved a day earlier to yesterday, Tuesday July 14th,

and I wondered what that might mean in the days events,

that would show that God is sovereign, to me.



I am need of a boost in income as our company has cut back in many ways. I am thankful to still have a job,

but the opportunity for overtime has ended for the most part.

So I had thought I would go apply for jobs to do during the week, to supplement.

My job is 22 miles from my house, so I try to

make the travel count when I have already driven so far.



But as I was on my way toward my home town,

I felt compelled to go see Dad, to spend time

with him over lunch time, to hope for that

opportunity I had been praying for that he may

be receptive and let me know that he had

asked God to forgive him of his sins.

I also wanted to massage his feet with creams

to help him feel loved, and more comfortable.



God gave me the words to say that seemed to get through to him sometimes called the "Romans road to Salvation".

The verse I felt he needed to feel was that

we "ALL have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God." Romans 3:23

so that he did not feel jabbed with more pain of judgment

that I know he has felt in the past

(for example his church had condemned him for

serving in our US Army) it is sad how our own flesh (fellow believers) can hurt us the most sometimes.

Then Romans 5:8 "But God showed His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

And Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

And I knew Dad had seemed self-assured from his

own good works, as he was a very hard worker,

and not lazy, always thinking of what things he must do,

even on Monday during the 9 hours I spent with him,

he seemed to be working in his mind, oblivious to my presence...

he would say (it is out in the car, and point)

or (it is this big, and reach out his hands), or (shuffle his hands back and forth like feet on a tread mill)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9

I helped him eat his dinner of mashed potatoes, green beans and turkey bake dressing. He seemed pleased and slept peacefully afterwards.



But Tuesday he seemed so receptive to me...

I kept repeating my name to him so he knew who I was,

and helped him eat one of his favorite lunches of Hawaiian pork chops and mashed potatoes and gravy and jello,

watching carefully that he did not choke, etc.

He had to be fed the past couple weeks, as

he became too weak.

His pain had been unbearable from many surgeries,

thus he was on morphine.



Due to his stroke a year ago he has been unable to consistently communicate what he is thinking,

but Tuesday when I shared this good news of the gospel with my dad,

at a very important moment, he squeezed my hand,

I am sure in acknowledgement that he would be

flying in for a landing with our Father in Heaven.



Mom told me it was all right that I did not come in at this early hour,

as my brother was closer in proximity, and

she left me with these words that a preacher

told her when her mother had passed away:



Death comes as a blessing.



Thankyou Jesus, for guiding me this day, so

that I have no regrets that I helped steer this

beloved child to You, as he was taking his

final lap in the "home stretch" as they call it in car racing.



He may not have the checkered flag, but to

be with Jesus is far more victorious than

winning any of the many races he had won in stock car racing in the past.



Thank You Holy Spirit for guiding me on that day,

as his final lap was being accomplished.



I’ll see you in heaven, Daddy!



.......~*~........

Thank you for sharing that with us. You were/are a devoted and good daughter. And don’t worry:

Your father is with God now.

Bless your father and you and your family.

I am praying for you and your family. Thank you for sharing such a personal story with us. It truely put’s life in a new perspective for me.

My Daddy never asked god to forgive him for his sin’s and it truely bothers me to this day. He died 4 years ago on Fathers Day to Cancer. He went in for flu sysmptom and three days later he died.

I dont think there has been a day that passes that I dont think about my mother and father. I am 35yrs old and both of my parents are gone.

My Mother committed suicide (shot herself) at the age of 54. It was five years ago yesterday,July 14th. You see I remember that day so clearly because I was the Paramedic that responded to the call. That was and is the toughest day of my life.



You seem like you have a very close family. Lean on them if needed. Also they may need your support as well. You will get through this and keep thinking you will see him again in the beautiful land of Heaven. With God by his side and the Angel’s of God surrounding him.



May God be with you

Love Raina

IM FREE

________________________________________________







Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free

I’m following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard Him call

I turned my back and left it all.







I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

I found that place at the close of day.





  











If my passing has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss

Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.





But not burdened with times of sorrow.

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I’ve savored much

Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.





Perhap’s my time seemed all too brief;

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me

God wanted me now, He set me free.





  Author unknown

Beautiful feelings from all of you. I will be praying for strength and peace for all of you. Thanks for sharing!

Quote: Originally posted by Mysticfox01 on 15 July 2009

---

IM FREE

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free

I’m following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard Him call

I turned my back and left it all.



I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

I found that place at the close of day.



If my passing has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss

Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.



But not burdened with times of sorrow.

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I’ve savored much

Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.



Perhap’s my time seemed all too brief;

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me

God wanted me now, He set me free.



  Author unknown

---

Mysticfox01, this is a beautiful and touching poem. It was a great comfort to me at my husband’s funeral service twelve years ago.



Thank you for posting it and spreading its message of hope.



I pray that God will grant you peace and healing after your tragic losses and that you will be able to move on in your life after all you suffered.

Quote: Originally posted by imweezie on 15 July 2009

---

Beautiful feelings from all of you. I will be praying for strength and peace for all of you. Thanks for sharing!

---

Thank you Weezie Dear friend may GOD be with you also!

Quote: Originally posted by ninagay on 16 July 2009

---

God bless you all, for sharing the good messages to help them heal and go forward.



Give yourself permission and time to grieve-that is important.

+

The first time my children and I attended church after the sudden death of my young husband, a lady pressed a note in my hand..it was a scripture from King James Version of the Bible.

I knew why when I read it. I carried that around for years-it was always a comfort, the promise to know and keep.



"COLOSSIANS Chapter 2, Verses 5, 6, & 7.

5.For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

6.As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:

7. Rooted and builtup in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

---

Amen! Thank you ninagay. God Bless you!

I extend my heartfelt sympathy to you and your family. Yes death can truly be a blessing . I am from Ohio and my dad has been gone 28 years and my mom 6 and it is still hard to get used to especially when you are a "daddy’s girl". My DH and I had to move into my mom’s house to take care of her about 10 years ago; she was an Alzheimer’s patient, but she became bedfast when she fell and broke her hip which in turn made it a lot easier to take care of her; she couldn’t walk so I didn’t have to worry about her getting out and walking away down the street and be visiting with the neighbors...LOL My dad died on the table during sugery.That was a terrible day, rainy, very cold, and very dark on the way back to OHIO; he was in a Pittsburgh, Pa hospital. I still can remember that day, and the ride home with my mom,sister and my oldest son...the silence was deafening. I am so glad you are a Christian, I am a very devout Catholic; without my faith I don’t know what I would do; I would be very very alone and empty.





May God Bless Your Day+

Sonshine,

Thanks for your response.

I can identify with the broken hip.

Over 10 years ago my dear Grandmother (mom of my dad)

had dementia and fell and broke her hip after we moved her into a nursing home.

We were afraid she would end up upside down in her deep freeze, or get hit on the road (where cars go 55mph) if she was not moved to a safer place, as her eyesight was also bad close up.

Unfortunately things were not as good for her.

I glad it worked out better for you all.



I can understand the pain of your dad dying on the surgery table. We feared the same many times, as my dad had a weak heart. He was to have to go far away in Ohio to have laser surgery to remove tabs from a pacemaker that had not come out (Columbus or Cleveland) but instead they found a hospital in Indianapolis (3 hours south of here) that tried it, but still one tab was left. He was in severe pain all the way back home, as my brother drove. So when Dad finally decided to be with God was better, we were glad we had not had to make that decision for him... that he made it when he was alert enough to tell us and the doctors.



God is good, and we must trust in Him for all our strength.

Thanks for your encouragement.

Twilitestar