In Memory

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 ESV)

It's been a long week and a half. Last Sunday (the 2nd of October), we received a phone call as we got home from church. My wife's aunt and uncle were wondering if we knew where her grandparents were. We found out they were at the hospital, and it didn't look good at all. My wife's grandmother had fallen at church -- not a bad fall, more of a sinking to the ground. She had a brain hemmorage because of some previous falls. When we got to the hospital, we were told it was only a matter of hours.

It was actually a week, almost exactly. We spent the past week at the hospital most of the day. My wife and her mother spent the night every night, sleeping on couches or recliners, staying until her grandfather came in the mornings. She had a living will, so there was little anyone could do once it was determined that she was terminal: no life support, just pain medicine and saline drip, and waiting.

I've never actually watched someone die. My dad was gone before I made it home, and both my grandparents died when I was living out of state. It's not something I want to repeat.

She died this past Sunday, at about the same time she was admitted the week before. Her viewing and funeral were last night, and the burial was today, with a small service for the family at the grave.

We grieve, but not as those who have no hope. We miss her, but we know that we will meet again. It's not goodbye, it's "See you later>'

Posted by Warren Kelly at October 12, 2005 02:11 PM | TrackBack