Dear Friends,
As many of you know the greatest treasure, I possess is now lying in
a hospital bed in the upstairs bedroom of our home.
For the first time in 54 years of marriage we are
now sleeping in separate beds as her 7 year battle with Parkinson has
entered a new stage, one which has stripped her of her independence and stolen
the energy and vitality that once made her the most popular girl in her high
school senior class.
Yesterday was an emotional day for me. Earlier in the day, I
collapsed in tears as I tried to wake her from 11 hours of sleep. Getting no
response to my efforts, I panicked and in desperation called Hospice for help.
Fortunately, by the time they arrived, Jean had opened her eyes and wanted to
know why I was crying.
Through my tears, I blurted out "I thought I was losing you
and I am not ready to let you go."
As my daughter and I stood beside her bed last night, I prayed
that God would miraculously cure this debilitating disease. But if He chooses
not to heal her, would He at least slow down the progression to give us as much
time as possible to laugh and love together.
Hopefully Jean will have months and even years ahead of her, but
when the time comes for God to call her home she is ready and prepared for the
journey. In fact she has assured me that she is looking forward to the trip to
heaven where she knows there will be no more earthly pain.
Yes she is ready, but the problem is that I and my children are
not prepared to let her go.
There is a poignant song by one of my favorite female country
artists, Patty Loveless titled “How Can I Help You Say Goodbye.”
"How can I help you say goodbye?
It’s OK to hurt, and it’s OK to cry
Come, Let me hold you and I will try.
How can I help you to say goodbye?"
It is never easy to say goodbye to the ones we love and it
was not easy for Jesus who conquered death itself
We see him shedding tears of sorrow as He stands beside the
grave of his good friend Lazarus. His tears were real, genuine and heartfelt
and because they were we can be certain that He knows and understands the same
pain we are going through as we confront the loss of our loved
ones..
"Jesus promises that "There are many homes up there
where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything
is ready, then I will come and get you., so that you can always be with me
where I am. If this weren't so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where
I'm going and how to get there."
"No, we don't, said Thomas. We haven't any idea where you are
going, so how can we know the way?"
"Jesus told him, I am the way- yes, and the truth and the
life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me" (John
14:1-6.TLB).
Letting go of loved one is one of the hardest things we will
ever have to do, but it is made easier when we know where
our loved ones are going, for as Thomas Moore has written.
"Earth has no sorrows that heaven cannot heal.".
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
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