On Eagle's Wings

On Eagle's Wings
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31

Followers

Friday, March 8, 2013

Finally Home

We just received notice that DH's Uncle passed away last night. The news wasn't a surprise, as he has been sick for quite some time and had been moved to hospice earlier this week.

What a blessing for his family who live out-of-state, that he knew he was dying and was able to ask for them to come home for good-byes. So wonderful that they were able to be with him these past few days.
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Good-byes are hard, but at least they do provide closure. That is something that, due to circumstances or distance beyond my control, I have not ever experienced with loved ones who have passed.

After receiving the dreaded call about my first husband, it was too late by the time I arrived at the hospital. On the day my Mother died, she had been on the phone with my sister who sensed that something was very, very wrong and immediately went to the house to take care of her. My Mom just barely made it to the door to unlock it so Sis could get in and call an ambulance. My brother, who had just undergone a bone marrow transplant in Seattle was in isolation at the hospital. Being the donor for my brother, I was also there when our beloved Mother died.

Today is the 22nd anniversary of my Dad's passing. Actually, it is the anniversary of my hearing of it. After the death of my Mom, my Dad lived alone. Although my brother and sister both lived in the same town, and regularly visited with him or checked on him, this particular week was just one of those weeks where no one had checked in with him for a few days. The weather was bad, my brother was very sick himself (still recovering from his transplant), and my sister stayed very busy with two toddlers. I lived out-of-state. We were notified of my Dad's death thanks to the concern of his neighbor who hadn't seen any sign of my Dad and noticed the newspapers of the past couple of days hadn't been picked up. This kind neighbor called the police who then broke in the house and found him. He had suffered a massive heart attack.

The police were clever enough to check the telephone and call the first number on the speed dial, which was our house, and so that is how I received the news.

The telling of these details seem so bizarre, but I was thinking of my emotions on that day and the sadness I felt because sometimes death comes suddenly and leaves no time for good-byes. Although I have envied those who get to experience the sweet good-byes as their loved one leaves this life, the comfort I have found is that there were no regrets about anything that needed to be said or forgiven with my loved ones. The sadness for me is that no family member was present, but my heart is comforted in that I know that they were really not alone as they went through the valley of the shadow of death.

One day I was walking out of a local hospital after visiting with an old friend, who was 95 at the time. He was tired and weary and wanted to go home to be with the Lord. He was ready. As I walked out the door of the hospital, there was a wheelchair with a woman holding her new baby. She was surrounded by other family members and everybody was hovering over and excited about the new addition to their family.

All of a sudden, a thought came to me about these two scenarios. This new baby was going to its new home where the welcome would be great and the family would now have this child with them in their home.

My friend, Vern, was also going to be going home soon. And this Scripture from Psalms came to my mind and I loved the thought of it. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."

Think of it! Death is not mourned in heaven when God's kids are coming home to be with Him forever! How awesome is that? Heaven is rejoicing and it is precious to our Father when His kids are finally with Him in the place He has prepared for them.

Finally Home
When engulfed by the terror of the tempestuous sea,
Unknown waves before you roll;
At the end of doubt and peril is eternity,
Though fear and conflict seize your soul.

But just think of stepping on shore-And finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand-And finding it God's!
Of breathing new air-And finding it celestial!
Of waking up in glory-And finding it home!

When surrounded by the blackness of the darkest night,
O how lonely death can be;
At the end of this long tunnel is a shining light,
For death is swallowed up in victory!

But just think of stepping on shore-And finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand-And finding it God's!
Of breathing new air-And finding it celestial!
Of waking up in glory-And finding it home!   
 
by L.E. Singer


 

7 comments:

Shelly said...

I love this post. What a revelation- and I love the picture of God's children going home to a place where there will be celebration and rejoicing, just like it is here with a baby.

I'll be praying for you, too, on this anniversary today.

NanaDiana said...

What a poignant post. I, too, missed my Mom's death and my Dad's death. I was able to get to my brother's side a few weeks ago before he died from a very fast moving cancer. I am so glad I answered the urgency I felt to get there rather than waiting for "results". xo Diana

yaya said...

What a touching and thoughtful post. I do wish I had been with my Dad when he passed but I also know we had a close relationship and he knew how much I loved him. I have no doubt that we don't pass over alone...someone will be there to greet us and the overwhelming love of the Lord will be there too. It's best to keep those bonds strong in this life so hopefully no regrets will be felt when a loved one is taken home. I live far from my Mom but call her almost daily. She's 86 and it's a blessing each day we have her. I'm sorry for the losses you've experienced. The poem you shared is wonderful and says it all.

Chatty Crone said...

My best friend for 40 years is losing her mother as I write. She is on a plane home to Chicago and hopes that she will get there before she passes.

It is always a tough thing to lose a long one whether with them or not.

I am so thankful that you and I both know that Heaven will have new family members this weekend too.

I like this poem:

Gone From My Sight
by Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone"

Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

And that is dying...

Death comes in its own time, in its own way.
Death is as unique as the individual experiencing it.

Anonymous

Love, sandie

nancygrayce said...

That Psalm comforted me so when my daddy died very suddenly. At the time, it seemed terrible that he died so unexpectedly, but looking back, it was so merciful that he didn't have to suffer a lingering illness! It's also so true that we are never truly alone!

Marsha Young said...

Yes! Our going home to be with HIM is cause for celebration, not mourning. Although it is hard for us to say goodbye down here, He is smiling as we approach our eternal home "up there."
Hugs to you and your family.

Melanie said...

This is a lovely post Nonnie!!! You are right, death is not mourned in heaven!!