Monday, June 23, 2008

Goodbye Friend

As many of you know, my friend Linda has been struggling with Cancer for the most of this last year. She lost her battle Saturday morning. No one has ever fought as courageous a battle as she. She will be laid to rest this afternoon.

She was a vital part of our ladies class at our church, so as you might well imagine, she was on our minds heavily as we thought of her Sunday morning. She wanted no tears from us and the last thing she told her sister-in-law was that she was going to beat her to Heaven. She maintained her sense of humor til the very end. She had every right to also. She knew exactly where she was going as she took those final steps in her transition from this world to the next.

We as mortals, however, are sad that we will no longer see her smiling face. We will miss the hugs and words of encouragement she was so well known for. And we know that we are being selfish in our desire to keep her with us when we all knew so well how she had suffered. So we tried to rejoice and talk about the love we had for her and she for us.

At some point in our lives, we are all afraid of dying. When I was younger, I worried about what would happen to my small children if I wasn't around to see to it they went to church. I wondered who would see to it they went to school and had clean clothes. Most of us mothers don't think anyone can take care of our children like we would.

Now that my children are grown, I don't have that fear any more, I simply want to know they are in a good relationship with God. I know they can take care of their children.

I guess we don't really know if we are afraid of dying until we are faced with that prospect. And when faced with that five years ago, I wasn't afraid. I think as we mature, we know whether we will be able to spend time in Abraham's bosom while waiting for judgment or if we'll end up in the Hadean realm like the rich man.

I know that Linda is waiting in Abraham's bosom for those of us who knew her, and will be standing there to welcome us into that comfort.

Do you think anyone has ever left this world without knowing which side of that great gulf they'll be waiting on? Do you think anyone has ever began that journey with a question in their minds? We won't know the answer until we actually take that step.

Goodbye my friend. I'll miss you and look forward to seeing you again.

Are you afraid of dying? If so, why?

Have a great Monday. Do something silly. Make someone laugh.

6 comments:

IzzyBeth said...

I'm sorry for your loss, but rejoicing with you that she is in a better place.

I used to be terrified of dying - until I lost my Grandma. Since then, it is more of a thing to look forward to, because I know I'll get to see her again.

Lisa said...

Oh that is very touching, and just brings back so many memories. I hope you are able to muster some strength from your and her faith to find a happy heart soon. The sadness is just like you said, we are mortals miss the ones we have lost.

My fear of dying is not that I don't believe in God, or that Jesus as the son of God. My fear is knowing that I do not/can not ever deserve going to heaven. And knowing that we do not earn our way to heaven just does not help me. I also fear the HOW more than anything else. I do NOT want cancer, don't want a car accident, just want to get old and die. but I think there is not a place to register where and when you want to die. Ok, enough of this, for a Monday this was heavy!

Marge said...

So sorry you lost your friend. You have written about her before, and I know she meant a lot to you, and you will miss her horribly.

No, I am not afraid of dying because I know the password: GRACE! (Pastor told a little story in his sermon yesterday and it was just that: we know the password.) I, like Lisa, worry about the "how" part of it. The ideal way for me to die would be to go to bed at night and just not wake up in the morning. I'm chicken where pain is concerned, so I think it's pain that I fear, but not death itself.

Take care of yourself. It's a sad time for you, and I'll be thinking of you.

Anonymous said...

I send my love for this rough time you are facing and also to her family.
I know where I will go, but How is the question. Pain and suffering is not something I want to experience. I took care of my Dad in his last days, it was the hardest thing I've ever done. Watching someone, I care for so deeply, die slowly. But I know where he went. I had that proven with a rainbow. You can read The Rainbow story on my blog at
www.twistedfencepost.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/the-rainbow/
Warning: it will bring tears.

Robbin said...

I was running late this morning, Shirley, and I read this early but didn't have time to post, and I've thought of you several times. I'm sorry for your loss too, and know you will miss her. I'm not afraid to die but I feel so bad for anyone who might love and miss me, because the pain is so hard.
I hope your day was a pleasant one and I'm sorry I didn't get to you sooner.

Anonymous said...

I've come to terms with the whole death thing, I think, in the last couple of years.

I am no longer afraid to die, as I know we all must at some point. My sadness comes at leaving my family. The silver lining (can there be one?) is that I know I have my beloved mom waiting for me. And I really miss her so much.

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