Good morning…
“Tommy died yesterday,” her text came into our group at 8:02 am. “He has gone to ‘green pastures’ as Margaret describes.”
“Thank you for letting us know,” I was the first to respond. “What a bittersweet journey. I will keep Margaret and the family tucked in my prayers.”
Then short responses cascaded into my phone.
“He never complained – not even one tiny bit.”
“All Glory now!”
“I’ve been praying and now sense why…what an amazing testimony and gift to Margaret that he was graced with such deep acceptance. Wow…he must be soaring into such joy now…much, much love to you all and wrapping Margaret and the family in warm, loving prayer.”
“What an inspiration Tommy has been. The courage he has shown through it all. May he rest in peace and glory.”
“He is in his brand new body now and definitely in charge of cooking for any large scale angelic banquets!”
“Hallelujah! Tommy is at total peace with his Maker.”
“LOOK AT MARGARET HOLDING THIS ANGEL!!! WOW…this just opened up on my computer right now. I’m sitting at my office and THIS PICTURE JUST OPENED ON MY SCREEN…you all, this is really, really something!!! Wow…”
Then, in love, I reached out to Margaret personally. She replied immediately: “Thank you, sweet friend, for your prayers and love and care for me throughout this difficult journey. We are relieved that Tommy is free from pain at last and resting peacefully in Jesus’ loving arms. He suffered so much over the past two years, yet never complained. And God was so gracious to fill those years with so many blessings. He was able to continue working, playing golf with friends, traveling with our family and all because Tommy chose to lie down in green pastures. If he had been filled with resentment, bitterness, ‘why me’, there wouldn’t have been room for all the blessings. Hopefully, we will be able to rendezvous soon. I love you, dear friend.”
I am so grateful to trust, along with my friends, that death only means “Resurrection comes next!”
In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true: Death swallowed by triumphant Life! Who got the last word, oh, Death? Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now? (1 Corinthians 15:54-55, MSG).
…Sue…
