March 3: I sit an uneasy tryst beside the bed of one whose body systems are closing down. Once -- a half week ago -- he smiled and talked animatedly in unrecognizable mumbles. He smiled angelically and laughed with a sweetness he had not shown in years -- perhaps not since he was a toddler. Whatever memories he was reliving were pleasant ones. For me it was an afternoon to be treasured.
Now, as our granddaughter enters the room with her three year-old, he once again rouses to smile at his little great-granddaughter. She is indeed a wondrous sight. Her long blond curls are caught up in a pony tail. Her big blue eyes reflect the glee she exudes as she announces, “Granddaddy, we’ve come to check on you.”
Years ago George’s older brother and brothers-in-law used to be great fans of New Yorker cartoons. One favorite showed a gentleman approaching a monkey cage at the zoo and asking, “Who’s in charge here?” It’s a great blessing in the ups and downs of nursing home and hospice care to be able to boldly answer such a question. “The Lord shall preserve you from all evil . . . The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121:7,8
* * *
March 6: This morning George passed on ahead to heaven to truly experience the forevermore part of the above-quoted promise.
It’s a Monday morning and, true to his upbringing and conviction, George waited to pass away until the Sabbath was over. The nurses at the home said he passed away peacefully. When we arrived at his room we sensed that all was well. God is still in charge of our going out and our coming in. What a glorious coming in it must have been into the presence of the Lord.
Not death, not life, nor pow’rs unseen,
Things now or yet to be,
Will God allow to come between -
He loves eternally. . . .
God has a limitless reserve
Of love that will endure,
Uplifting love, which none deserve,
Love holding us secure.
From WordSing by George Lauderdale from Romans 8:38,39
Common meter as “O for a thousand tongues to sing”
Now, as our granddaughter enters the room with her three year-old, he once again rouses to smile at his little great-granddaughter. She is indeed a wondrous sight. Her long blond curls are caught up in a pony tail. Her big blue eyes reflect the glee she exudes as she announces, “Granddaddy, we’ve come to check on you.”
Years ago George’s older brother and brothers-in-law used to be great fans of New Yorker cartoons. One favorite showed a gentleman approaching a monkey cage at the zoo and asking, “Who’s in charge here?” It’s a great blessing in the ups and downs of nursing home and hospice care to be able to boldly answer such a question. “The Lord shall preserve you from all evil . . . The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121:7,8
* * *
March 6: This morning George passed on ahead to heaven to truly experience the forevermore part of the above-quoted promise.
It’s a Monday morning and, true to his upbringing and conviction, George waited to pass away until the Sabbath was over. The nurses at the home said he passed away peacefully. When we arrived at his room we sensed that all was well. God is still in charge of our going out and our coming in. What a glorious coming in it must have been into the presence of the Lord.
Not death, not life, nor pow’rs unseen,
Things now or yet to be,
Will God allow to come between -
He loves eternally. . . .
God has a limitless reserve
Of love that will endure,
Uplifting love, which none deserve,
Love holding us secure.
From WordSing by George Lauderdale from Romans 8:38,39
Common meter as “O for a thousand tongues to sing”
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