Fare Thee Well
Lying in her bed, she struggles to draw breath. The recent car accident -- a head-on collision -- has taken its toll on her 97-year-old body. There were several tense days in the ICU, hooked up to a respirator while doctors shook their heads, but she's home now. At least, she's back in the senior care facility that has been home to her these past few years.
Her grand-daughter has stopped by to bring her roses, and welcome her back from the hospital. She can't help but notice the discomfort her grandmother is obviously in. "Grandma," she asks, "would you like me to pray for you?"
Breathing with difficulty, she nods her head and says, "Yes, please pray."
Her grand-daughter prays for a few minutes, and then looks at her grandmother's struggle to breathe, to hold on to life. "Grandma? Why don't you just relax, and go to Jesus?"
And closing her eyes, she peacefully does just that.
Today, I am in the Toronto area, to serve as a pallbearer as we buried my grandmother. Her journey of faith is a remarkable one, and the numbers of people who came to the funeral today were testimony of the lives she, along with my grandfather who died some years earlier, had touched.
But the story of her last moments with my cousin Diane is the best telling of her passing. Let's just leave it at that, and have a moment of silence in respect for a woman of God, who is finally in the presence of the One she has served for over 90 years.
Marjorie McAlpine, 1909-2006
Good-bye, Grandma.
Her grand-daughter has stopped by to bring her roses, and welcome her back from the hospital. She can't help but notice the discomfort her grandmother is obviously in. "Grandma," she asks, "would you like me to pray for you?"
Breathing with difficulty, she nods her head and says, "Yes, please pray."
Her grand-daughter prays for a few minutes, and then looks at her grandmother's struggle to breathe, to hold on to life. "Grandma? Why don't you just relax, and go to Jesus?"
And closing her eyes, she peacefully does just that.
Today, I am in the Toronto area, to serve as a pallbearer as we buried my grandmother. Her journey of faith is a remarkable one, and the numbers of people who came to the funeral today were testimony of the lives she, along with my grandfather who died some years earlier, had touched.
But the story of her last moments with my cousin Diane is the best telling of her passing. Let's just leave it at that, and have a moment of silence in respect for a woman of God, who is finally in the presence of the One she has served for over 90 years.
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Good-bye, Grandma.
posted by Robbymac at
8:48 PM
6 Comments:
I'm sorry, Robby.
I am sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you, your dad, and your family. May you sense the Lord's presence among you.
Rob,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
I lost my last Grandparent about a year and a half ago. If you were as close to your Grandma as I was to all four of my Grandparents - which, from your writing I suspect your were - there will be a tremendous void in your life.
Peace be with you, Wendy, and the kids.
Go have a good cry if you haven't already.
Neil
So sorry Rob. Thinking of you today, and your family too. I'm praying.
Chrissy-Nina
Thank you for the simply stated, but profoundly meaningful tribute to your grandmother.
Dave & I knew her only on a casual level, but were struck with her wonderful, warm, inviting personality and no one could miss the fact that she loved her Lord.
God bless you.
Love
Kathy & Dave Downey
BTW -- your tribute to George Mercado was wonderful too! You're a writer...no doubt about that:)
Thanks, everyone, for your kind thoughts and words. They are very meaningful to me.
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