Death and Dying

It has been two years since my sweet mom has gone to be with the Lord.  I will never forget July 5, 2008.  The weather was much like it is today. 

I always get a little sad when June and July roll around because it reminds me of the events that occurred leading up to my mom passing. 

June 28, 2008 my mom fell in the middle of the night.  It was around 4am and I could hear her calling out, "help, help!"  I ran down the hall to her room to find her on the floor in front of her closet door.  Apparently she had gotten confused in the middle of the night and thought that the closet door was the way to the bathroom (later we would find out it was due to a lack of oxygen from her disease).  Paul and I both tried to help her up and get her acclimated.  It took her a long time to catch her breath.  We had to turn her oxygen up to it's full capacity until she could finally breathe normal again. 

I will never forget that night.  I went back into my bedroom and just cried my eyes out.  Paul came and gave me a hug and I just let it go.  The tears were coming and I couldn't stop it because I knew in my heart that we were nearing the end of my moms journey with Pulmonary Fibrosis.  When she first came to live with us the doctors had given her 6mos. to a year to live.  We had just celebrated the year mark weeks before this incident.

As the Lord would have it, my mom passed away a week later.  I was able to be by her side when the Lord called her home.  Loving my mom into the Kingdom was an honor.  A blessing! 

I haven't met very many people my age that have lost both parents.  My dad passed away from complications with emphysema when I was 23 years old.  That was a  very difficult day as well...February 19, 1996.  Losing my dad was one of the hardest things in my life up to that point.  I literally thought I was going to lose it.  But one day after spending some time with the Lord I thought to myself, "I can't lose it now.  This is not the last tragedy I will face in life." 

You see the reality is...we are all like a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away (James 4:14).  We don't know what tomorrow holds. 

This is what inspires me to make a difference TODAY!  There are people out there that need the Lord and are searching for Him.  We can be the light! I can't think of any other blessing and honor than to lead others to our Great and Mighty King.  People are dying all around us...physically and spiritually.  

Who can you pray for today?  Who can you talk to today?  Make an effort to reach out to someone with God's love!  You will be blessed!