Must be my day to blog. It sure is good to be home after another week in NC. I love to be with the kids. . Paul and Kaylene as well as the boys. .. but it's good to be back.
Speaking of home, it occurred to me today that I really need to write about what you should know when I die. We have been having a wonderful Sunday school class on death and dying, and one of the recurring themes is hope. .. and how hopelessness is one of the most painful things endured by hospice patients. And I want to be sure you know where my very CERTAIN hope is.
I have been planning my funeral for a long time (and the plan is written down in my Bible as well as in a document on my computer in case you need to find it). I really can't wait to go. I will see Grandma Beetham and dance with her and Grandpa. I know Grandpa Henderson will be there, and my Mom. Of course Laura and Karin will be waiting with open arms. And most wonderful of all, Jesus will enfold me with the greatest love of all. I have no fear of passing into any and all of their arms. And I want my funeral to reflect the joy that I will be having while others are grieving.
Oh, I know, there will be those who find my absence very sad, and will miss me. But I want them to know that I will be much happier to be gone. My prayer is that I will have supplied them well with love, and they will know that I care very much about them and they will remember me that way. And I think of my Mom and Grandma before they died and how they wished to leave here and be home with the Lord. As much as I miss them, I wouldn't wish them back from that. And I think of Laura and all the blessings she left behind her and the good memories and joy she filled our lives with. I hope my life will be as joyful and a blessing to others.
So. .. . please understand why my funeral will have joyful songs of heaven, and know that I will be singing "
Agnus Dei" with you. .. but from the throne of Jesus. And do not weep for me. If you must weep for yourself, feel free. I am so sorry I can't hug you and dry your tears. But I will be much happier in heaven!!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
One is silver and the other gold
I've been thinking a lot lately about the old Girl Scout song. .. "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold." And this weekend has just reinforced it!!
I got a phone call a couple weeks ago from an old High School buddy. Pam and I went to different schools, but did a lot together through church and have always stayed in touch. For a lark, a number of years back, we went back to our old church camp town. . .but this time we hit the wineries close by. And I took her to NYC for her first time. . . it was a ton of fun seeing her reaction to the drivers, the skaters, the buildings, and the rapid pace. She remarried recently and I've never met her new hubby and they will be in DC on business once a month for the foreseeable future. I am thrilled and really looking forward to it as we always have a ton of fun together.
Today, my best friend in HS called me. She had spent the weekend in our old home town (I couldn't be there due to other commitments) and was giving me the report on her way home. We sure had a lot to catch up on. She'll always be "Lenke" to me, and I had a pretty good guess who was on the line when she greeted me with "Ida Louuuuuu".
And yesterday I had a good chat with my dear friend from Greene now in Tennessee. To say that Karen and I are close. . .well, in Sunday School class today we were talking about death and dying and the importance for being there when someone passes. And I thought of her constant prayers and support through all of Laura's illness. I don't remember her being with us in the ICU waiting room. . . but she was. In fact I don't remember much of that waiting room at all except the misery. We were talking a couple years later after I was there with another friend, and I mentioned that I didn't remember it had an attached bathroom. . that's when she reminded me she had been there most of the time. I suppose it will be like that when we meet Jesus in heaven. We'll say, "Lord, did you know. . ." and He'll say, "I know. . I was there all the time.
And then there are the new friends. I was killing time in the fabric store waiting for a phone decision on curtain fabric for Paul and Kaylene. "Are you a quilter?" the sweet young thing asked as I browsed the quality cottons.
"Occasionally. Why?"
"I'm getting ready to make my first quilt and I need 10 fabrics. Can you help me?" And a delightful half hour ensued with us cruising the aisles together, and my tutorial on quilting terms, color choices, print sizes, etc. And as God would have it, it turned out she is an environmental studies person with an interest in volunteering on some of the same things I do. I sure hope Hannah uses the email address I gave her to get back to me and share the quilt top when she has it done. And for sure, I hope to see her at a Stream Watch or Master Naturalist function as of course, I gave her all the contact info for those programs, too.
Yep - - one is silver and the other gold. It's getting to the point that most of my "old" friends are silver now. . . but they are all treasure to me. I'm one of the only people I know who can call a wrong number and talk for half an hour. They are all dear. What a blessing!!!
Thank you for being my friend.
I got a phone call a couple weeks ago from an old High School buddy. Pam and I went to different schools, but did a lot together through church and have always stayed in touch. For a lark, a number of years back, we went back to our old church camp town. . .but this time we hit the wineries close by. And I took her to NYC for her first time. . . it was a ton of fun seeing her reaction to the drivers, the skaters, the buildings, and the rapid pace. She remarried recently and I've never met her new hubby and they will be in DC on business once a month for the foreseeable future. I am thrilled and really looking forward to it as we always have a ton of fun together.
Today, my best friend in HS called me. She had spent the weekend in our old home town (I couldn't be there due to other commitments) and was giving me the report on her way home. We sure had a lot to catch up on. She'll always be "Lenke" to me, and I had a pretty good guess who was on the line when she greeted me with "Ida Louuuuuu".
And yesterday I had a good chat with my dear friend from Greene now in Tennessee. To say that Karen and I are close. . .well, in Sunday School class today we were talking about death and dying and the importance for being there when someone passes. And I thought of her constant prayers and support through all of Laura's illness. I don't remember her being with us in the ICU waiting room. . . but she was. In fact I don't remember much of that waiting room at all except the misery. We were talking a couple years later after I was there with another friend, and I mentioned that I didn't remember it had an attached bathroom. . that's when she reminded me she had been there most of the time. I suppose it will be like that when we meet Jesus in heaven. We'll say, "Lord, did you know. . ." and He'll say, "I know. . I was there all the time.
And then there are the new friends. I was killing time in the fabric store waiting for a phone decision on curtain fabric for Paul and Kaylene. "Are you a quilter?" the sweet young thing asked as I browsed the quality cottons.
"Occasionally. Why?"
"I'm getting ready to make my first quilt and I need 10 fabrics. Can you help me?" And a delightful half hour ensued with us cruising the aisles together, and my tutorial on quilting terms, color choices, print sizes, etc. And as God would have it, it turned out she is an environmental studies person with an interest in volunteering on some of the same things I do. I sure hope Hannah uses the email address I gave her to get back to me and share the quilt top when she has it done. And for sure, I hope to see her at a Stream Watch or Master Naturalist function as of course, I gave her all the contact info for those programs, too.
Yep - - one is silver and the other gold. It's getting to the point that most of my "old" friends are silver now. . . but they are all treasure to me. I'm one of the only people I know who can call a wrong number and talk for half an hour. They are all dear. What a blessing!!!
Thank you for being my friend.
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