Your ways, O Lord, are past finding out, but they are very gracious and tender; and this turning of seeming evil into good, of making your children’s trials grow into triumphs, and their pains into pleasures, is a wonderful proof, both of your pity and your power.
Susannah Spurgeon
You are good and do good; teach me Your statues.
Psalm 119:68
WOW! What a perspective of loss and grief for a husband whose beloved wife has left his side…
George Mueller’s wife, Mary, died on February 6, 1870.
“Within a few hours of her death, [George] went to an evening prayer service where he lifted up prayer and praise to his Father in Heaven. Someone in attendance was struck by Mueller’s words and recorded them:
‘Beloved brethren and sisters in Christ, I ask you to join with me in hearty praise and thanksgiving to my precious Lord for His lovingkindness in having taken my darling, beloved wife out of the pain and suffering which she has endured, into His own presence; and as I rejoice in everything that is for her happiness, so I now rejoice as I realize how far happier she is, in beholding her Lord whom she loved so well, than in any joy she has known or could know here. I ask you also to pray that the Lord will so enable me to have fellowship in her joy that my bereaved heart may be occupied with her blessedness instead of my unspeakable loss.’”
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/god-good-pain/
Four years ago this day, (08/10/20), my Dear Dad was buried. It’s good to be occupied with Our Father’s lovingkindness for removing Dad from life support as he and we desired he not be held in bondage to this world.
After Dad’s fall in the bathroom of their home, Mom called for help. He was transported to Baptist South where he received emergency care and evaluation. It was there he slipped into a coma, and test results revealed he needed more extensive care. He would be transported to
UF Health for trauma care, at which time he was intubated to keep him alive for transfer.
We were allowed to briefly visit him that Sunday morning/afternoon, masked and only two at a time (during Covid). Mom was told he would not survive without surgery, and there was still a high risk losing him on the operating table ðŸ˜. We were also told we could not linger long with him in ICU due to the hospital’s Covid protocol.
The best news we heard that day was that Dad was breathing for the machine, instead of the machine breathing for him. They were aware he had a DNR order, but before they could remove him from life support, Mom would have to sign papers to initiate that order. Dad’s medical team informed Mom that evening that she could return the next morning to sign papers to remove the support. We would not allow her to do that alone. Her children, Tommy , Mark, and I, would join her. With heavy hearts we all deeply dreaded to return the next morning.
I closed my eyes that night to beg the LORD’s mercy!! We prayed for Dad’s comfort and peace. It seemed he had that when we visited. I was desperate for sleep and peace! I also begged the LORD to take Dad from this pseudo existence for living we all knew he would not desire. We knew he would enjoy far more being with Him.
Approximately 24 hours after Dad’s fall, he took his last breath, even while on that machine. When he left this world, he immediately entered into Christ’s presence!
Praise the LORD!
When the call came, approximately 1:30 a.m., we all rejoiced and wept to know He was safe and well with Jesus!
He always said, “When it’s my time to go, I want to go fast. I don’t want to linger and
put y’all through the hardship of surrounding my bed in a hospital. I just want to go to be with Jesus!”
To remember this brings me joy that Jesus answered our prayers and took Dad the way He did. Jesus took him timely enough to satisfy our desire to say goodbye, and fast enough to fulfill Dad’s wish!
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11
Photo:
Dad’s pall bearers were five of his six grandsons, 1 grandson-in-law, 1 great grandson, followed by the 6th grandson, a Minister of the Gospel, who performed his funeral service the day before and would again point us to the Gospel that day there at the cemetery where we gathered as family and friends to release his body to it’s final resting place.
As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
Ecclesiastes 11:5
We daily thank the LORD and anticipate by faith another grand baby growing within Rosemary’s womb.
At this posting, Rosemary and Baby are 13 weeks and 3 days along, growing close together, heart to heart. Everyday we are very aware of how gracious God has given!
I’m thankful Rosemary treasures this privilege and calling to lay herself down for a season of weeks and months for this delicate and precious growing presence of another soul to consider.
This past week we were reminded of how fragile and invaluable this dear one is to us, of how quickly we’ve planned and added to our family, only to be paused to remember the LORD has ordained His purpose in the briefest and longest of days. He’s given and He’s taken away. He wills and He numbers every incalculable heart beat, every blink and breath!
If our fathers were still with us, they would join us in counting down the days to see this new Baby Gray on the way!
We rejoice in God giving, and we bless His name because He’s taken away as graciously!
In loving memory of our fathers…
Klondike Gray-
(10/08/27-09/27/12)
Thomas Earl Cleland-(10/10/30-08/03/20
In this memorable photo they held and surrounded their newborn grandson, John Todd Harris (June, 2001), who now better comprehends the treasure of such a gracious gift, a wife who holds within her womb their baby, knit together by the Creator of the Universe!!
Photo #1- Baby G, waving at Mommy and Daddy
Photo #2- Baby John with his thankful grandfathers as they took in all the joy of learning he was given the maiden names of their mothers.
