I recently had lunch with a long-time friend whose father passed away last Christmas Eve. At the same time, my Dad's health was rapidly declining and went home about 2 weeks later. We were talking about how vivid our memories are of those final days. Our minds allow us to travel faster than the speed of light and even travel through time. I remember with video-like recall last Christmas Eve, leaving the Chapel early with Dad and going to the ER; an enjoyable Christmas Day with food, gifts, and family; welcoming hospice into the home December 27th and Dad's adjustments to their care; New Year's Day when Dad's homegoing began with alot of sleepy time and the difficulty I had bedding him down that night; January 2nd when Dad slept all day and never woke; January 3rd, the snow day when Dad sat up several hours, drank, ate a little, received family; January 4th when Dad sat up again but was very weak and we laid him down to bed for the final time; January 5th, 6th, 7th days in bed, resting, family and friends visiting, bringing food; and of course, January 8th homegoing, the three of us being at his side when he left, praying with him, laying hands on him, seeing his eye open to look at us and say his goodbye, the tears, the relief, the thankfulness, even feeling the lingering warmth of his bed after the funeral director removed his body. Precious memories indeed!
Most activities and most people-to-people interactions on most days of our lives are easily forgotten, but the life-changing events, places, and people remain with us. God allows us to retain those memories for our blessing and our growth and our faith, so that we can look back and recall how He worked and how great He is. The result? His Spirit renews our spirits, then we re-commit ourselves to His glory and kingdom purpose.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Relief was my first thought when dad passed away. Thank God for ending his suffering on Earth and taking him up with him. Mom and I had just left the hospital probably some 25 minutes when the nurse called and told us he had passed away. So we just made a right turn and headed back to Savannah. Kind of numb just driving back to the hospital, in fact I missed the exit. It took us a few minutes longer to get back, but when we got there, dad was laying peacefully. He looked actually better than the 2 days I saw him that weekend. He looked content. He was tired, tired of the ordeal. He asked me a couple of times- just shoot me, hit me over the head with a hammer. I smiled and joked with him that there were times I probably wanted to have done that- not really, just sometimes family does make you angry. The nurses were phenomenal. They were there when he took his last labored breath. Amazing people those nurses and caretakers. So for me, Christmas has another stronger meaning. Its dad's birth into heaven.
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