by Sharon O | May 13, 2010 | Uncategorized
In the book waking the dead; John Eldredge says: “When we see life from the eyes of the heart, we begin to see clearly the battle that rages around us.”
There is a battle for our hearts.
It is a spiritual one taking place daily… we are not aware of it but it is ongoing and always.
John says: “The heart is the dwelling place of our true beliefs. The store house of memories is stored in our hearts.” So what do we believe and what are we seeking?
In Jeremiah 29:13
“You will find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Are we seeking Jesus with everything in us?
John says: “Christ did not die for an idea. He died for a person.”
“Jesus came to give us back our hearts.” do you remember the song;
Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me.
It is a prayer put to music for us to meditate on.
If we are Christian with Christ in us we will know the contrast between the world’s values and the values of God.
In order for us to hear His voice, we must listen with our hearts.
It is our choice: to listen to God or listen to the world.
Ezekiel 36:26
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you, I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
John said: “We cannot love others if we are hiding from ourselves”… Lord help us to examine our hearts and motives and show us what is hidden as we develop a new ‘heart’ that is full of love and compassion for others.
by Sharon O | May 9, 2010 | Uncategorized
Today our mom went to be with the Lord. She is having a sweet reunion with her son and baby grandson. Her passing was peaceful, the morning was quiet and restful for everyone. We will miss you mom O. Happy Mothers day in Heaven. Now you can sing and dance with the angels… and give Jesus a hug.
We will love and miss you always.
by Sharon O | May 7, 2010 | Uncategorized
This afternoon mom O rallied in spirit and in voice.
She wanted water to drink and she really wanted out of her bed.
That is not possible she can barely move on her own and to move her much will cause her great pain. Yesterday she said nothing all day today she talked to several people and said to my husband as we were leaving, “tonight I will do it.”
We aren’t sure what that meant but we can only wait and watch as the process of her leaving continues. She did manage to drink water from a straw and opened her eyes too.
We are amazed and I think we are watching little miracles each time she rallies and is able to speak to family. The down side is this is really hard on dad for he wants her to sit up and chat with him and go back to crocheting. I know hope is there in his eyes as he rushes over to her side and pats her arm and says to her, “we will just sit here together ma.”
Her journey of death has not been like any book or formula written on the process of letting go.
She is dancing to her own dance and she is the only one who can hear the music. The dance of death is unique and individual for everyone of us.
It is sacred and holy.
Like a birth of a new baby this birth is just as intensive as we stand by and watch the one laboring.
We pray for her passage from this life to the next and in that process we are learning about life, love and relationships. Pray with us as we continue to keep watch… over our loved one.
by Sharon O | May 6, 2010 | Uncategorized
We are now into day six and the waiting continues.
Mom seems peaceful and not in pain. She is not responsive and seems almost in a coma state.
The waiting has been extremely difficult for us all it is a hard thing to watch and be a part of
but in the same sense we wouldn’t have missed it. The journey between life and death is a spiritual one for each of us. I am convinced after watching this that it is a unique and difficult journey for each person heading down that path.
The family is waiting and praying.
Some have gone back to work and back into normal activities. There is no purpose for the whole group to be hanging around watching her every breath.
Dad is doing alright I think it is very hard on him and sometimes he has false hope that she will return to us and be the mom that he remembers.
Love always has hope in its heart.
He has been her love for 60+ years and it is his story to tell. Yesterday he told the visiting nurse how they met. It was a sweet remembering for his heart and mind. I observed his every move as he shared the story of meeting mom and his decision to marry her. It was tender and the nurse who was listening was attentive and caring. She even had tears in her eyes for their story of love affects everyone.
Mom O has been for us… a legacy of love… of compassion… of prayer and of Faith.
Her bible worn and so loved as she read it over and over one has to wonder how many tears did she shed as she poured herself into the words of the Lord.
Everyone who knew her was affected by her gentleness of spirit and faith.
We wait and we pray and ask the Lord what are we supposed to be learning from this journey of death. For me the lesson has been family love and how it expands from parents to children and then to their children. She leaves a legacy of faith for all of us and we hope we can make her proud.
by Sharon O | May 5, 2010 | Uncategorized
I wrote this a few days ago and have been working on it as the process continues. Mom O cannot respond to anyone now she is quiet and resting and seems to be rather peaceful.
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She calls her mama …
it is precious to experience and watch the gentleness. The sweet spirit of giving… of the daughters love.
It is heart breaking to be taking care of someone who once took care of you.
It is also an honor at the same time.
I sit and listen as I am moved with great emotion and watch this interaction between the mother and daughter.
Compassion is gentle and soft and ever so caring. Compassion is warm and trusting. Compassion is hand holding as the questions begin between the two of them.
Mama… are you cold? Mama… are you comfortable? What do you need mama?
As the daughter hand rubs against the mama face now burning with fever.
My husband’s sister…My sister in the Lord… Loves on her mama.
It is precious. It is a Kodak moment only a camera would not create the gentleness of spirit that I am observing.
It is what you do when you love someone.
You sacrifice your ‘need for privacy or quiet or sleep’ for the one who you now take care of.
It is what you do
when you love someone.
How awesome it is that we have hope.
We know that when our loved one passes from this place called home to a new one. We will join them one day and forever be together.
The suffering will be over.
The dying body will be changed and the new body will once more be ‘her mama’.
She calls her mama… four days before mothers day.
Every day right now is mama’s day until she lets go and enters heaven.
We thank you mom O for your legacy. Your love and your prayers for us will always be valued. Your daughter and sons respect you highly. We thank you mom O for being a wonderful grandma.
You lived a wonderful life and raised beautiful children who in turn because of your example will raise children who will learn to honor and love your Lord.
Dad sits near your bed and your dog Abbie too. She knows something is wrong with mom O.
The daughter love will always call you mama. You will hold a special place in her heart forever and always.
She calls you mama and your sons do too. We will miss you mama O.
