life is precious
17.03.06
Jesus wept
Last night I received a call from my Mom at the hospital. They are going to unplug my Grandpa.
The tears flowed freely that night. I was comforted by the story of Lazarus. Not because Jesus can raise my Grandpa up — though true. But simply to know that Jesus was weeping with me.1
He knows our sorrows.
Just visiting
My Grandpa was puffed up like a balloon. The air machine is pumping, but his lungs have so deteriorated that much of the air is escaping them. Whether he is to stay or leave us, a new body would be his.2
After we all arrived and the doctor met with us, they slowly began to remove the tubes and medication. My Grandpa has been in the hospital since January 6th. Within a month he was out of intensive care and on the road to recovery. But then something went terribly wrong, and he’s been getting worse ever since. For the past two weeks the doctors have seen no improvement — and know there is nothing more they can do.
While my Grandma Linda was returning from the washroom, she ran into a man with a guitar — a guitar just like my Grandpa’s. There is an arts program at the University of Alberta hospital, and Brent’s job is to bring cheer to people through music. He came to the bedside and played one of his own songs, and the familiar “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone… it’s gonna be a bright, bright sunny day.”
Without God’s joy and peace, the sorrow would surely overcome us. He had my Mom bubbling over from the start, and my Grandma making room to dance. But there is a time for joy and a time for sorrow.3
We were there for each other… a comforting hand as I wept on my Grandpa’s shoulder. Holding my little Mommy in my arms as she burst out in tears. My Grandpa remained sedated during this time, but even he cried with us.
At 10 to noon, our hands in his, my Grandpa breathed his last and was gathered to his people. And so the visit came to an end.
A hill to die on
I feel as though God has been preparing me for my Grandpa’s departure. This past week I so happened to be reading of Aaron, the high priest of Israel, going up the mountain where he would die. And I thought, if God asked me to go up the mountain where I would die, would I do it? I knew Moses was next, so I read a little more of The Story.
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” - Psalms 90:12 TNIV