"H"eaven

I'm sure each of us has our own thoughts on what heaven will look like.  Yes, I know, God has laid out a marvelous visual in Revelation.  But, do you ever just sit and ponder what it will be like when you walk through those gates?

Everyone suffers loss in their life and most recently, I've lost my Grandmother.  There are days that the grief still feels so fresh that my heart hurts and tears roll down my cheeks.  On those sadder days, I try to envision what she must be experiencing.  Who was there at the gates to greet her?  Who did she hug first?  What is she up to?  Is she with my Grampa?  What does she look like? 

God has told us that when we get to heaven, we will have no more pain, no more sorrow, none.  And we will look our finest.  I like to picture my Grandparents in their early years of marriage.  My Grampa with a full head of hair, my Gramma with one of those fancy hairstyles.   And neither of them is hurting anymore.  They are whole and healthy.  Oh man!  That alone brings my heart such joy!

Heartache and grief is part of life but it seems much less painful when we can picture a place full of love and joy.  Jesus has told us, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-3 KJV

Our Father's house has many mansions, many rooms and they are being prepared for us as we sit here in this world.  This world is not our home, praise the Lord!  If you are a believer, you know that the grave is not the end but the beginning to a new world with Jesus. 

Oh the party they must have in heaven every time a believer is welcomed home.  Can you just imagine what it must be like to see Jesus for the first time.  And all our loved ones that have gone before us, they are there with Him now.  Oh what a sweet moment.

Our hope and our future are firmly secured and placed in heaven.  We are heirs to Christ and promised eternal salvation with Him.  Nothing can take away that inheritance.  Nothing.  It's not anything we've earned but something we have been given through Jesus' death on the cross for each of us.

Physical death may separate us from those we love but we need to remember, it is only temporary.  One day, when it is our time, we will step through those gates and see them again.  We will see our loved ones and they will look spectacular. 

I wasn't with my Gramma when she passed away a few months ago.  I wasn't there to hold her hand or see her face as she began to see Jesus welcoming her home but, I remember what she shared with me about my Grampa when he passed away.  Grampa had been silent for days.  No words, eyes closed.  And just before he passed, his face relaxed and he looked happy.  Gramma said she knew the moment Grampa had seen his first glimpse of Jesus because Grampa's face told of the excitement and anticipation of heaven.  I think that my Gramma had that same relaxed and happy face.  She knew what was waiting for her on the other side and in an instant, she left this world and was home.  That, that makes my heart happy.  And because of the legacy of Jesus that she has left behind, I know that I will walk hand in hand with her once again.

Heaven seems miles away but it's our home.  Our citizenship is in heaven, "Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven". Matthew 5:12  Jesus has promised to come back for us.  We don't know when, but we do know that God knows all the plans for each of us and He alone knows when we will be with him again in heaven. 

Some days I wish I could have been at my Gramma's side when she drew her last breath.  If I had been, I think I would have told her how excited I was that she was going home.  Gloria Gaither has a quote that fits so well with what I think Jesus said to my Gramma.  "One of these days, our Father will scoop us up in His strong arms and we will hear Him say those sweet and comforting words,"Come on, child.  We're going home.""   And I can see my Gramma smiling.  One of those big, larger than life smiles. 

This world is where we are today but friends, the best is yet to come.  Can you just imagine? 

God's "G"race

Life is full of moments.  Some happier, some more difficult.  Some moments that take your breath away and some that the images will never leave your mind.  And all those moments are covered by the grace God gives us.  "God is always sufficient in perfect proportion to our need."- Beth Moore

I was scrolling through my memories on Facebook on this day and remembering moments in my life.  Most of them happy moments with family and friends and then I came across a moment from nine years ago.  As soon as I read the memory, I was taken right back to that hospital room with my Dad.  I know I've shared before how my Dad had heart surgery in 2009.  What was supposed to be routine surgery was anything but.  Within 24 hours after Dad's surgery, he ended up in a medical induced coma because he kept "coding out" and his heart would go into a weird rhythm and not beat correctly.  I read the memory on Facebook and in an instant, I was right there, in the room with my Mom.  God covered that day and that series of events. 

I can remember sitting next to the bed with my Dad counting down the minutes until he was allowed to have Jello.  Mom was sitting next to me and we were all discussing what flavor of Jello Dad might want.  I  had a book on my lap that I had been reading and when I looked down at the pages, the words were gone.  In place of the words there were images, like an old movie being played.  There were flashing lights, alarms, nurses everywhere and my Mom and I hiding in the corner.  I saw myself kicking a chair out of the way in the images and the fear in my Mom's eyes of the unknown.  And then I blinked and it happened in real life.

Within moments, Dad starting jerking and gasping.  Alarms went off.  Blue lights starting flashing.  I could hear the announcement going off in the hall, "Code Blue".  Every time I blinked the room filled up with more nurses and doctors.  And then I realized I had kicked a chair out of the way and was standing in a corner with my Mom.  All we could see was Dad's body jerking on the table as they zapped him several times with the paddles.  Dad's doctor came in and started pulling out tubes and disconnecting the pieces and parts monitoring my Dad.  And then there was silence.

I can remember the fear in my Mom's eyes, just as I had seen in the images on my book.  I didn't share this experience with anyone except my husband for the longest time.  It sounds like a fabricated story, I know.  But the more I've thought about it, the more I realize, it was God's grace.  God was already aware of what was going to happen and because of His love for my family, He gave me a glimpse of what was to come so that I would be strong through Him.

God is intensely interested in being completely involved and intervening in each and every

circumstance in our lives.  Not a moment goes by that He doesn't know about.  And that fact alone should flash neon lights to you...God is covering you in grace.  God is IN all the situations of your life.  God is with you regardless. 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 

2 Corinthians 12:9a

God's grace gives us strength for all the moments in our lives.  God's grace covers us as sinners and allows us eternity with Jesus. God's grace is a gift.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

How amazing that we have a Father who looks after His children in such a way that He provides all we need when we simply place our faith in him.  My heart still races at the memory of those images on the pages of my book that day.  I can still hear it all as if those alarms were just now going off.  But God gave me such a gift that day, and not just the gift of knowing what was about to happen so that I could be strong for my Mom and for myself, but God gave me my Dad back healed and whole.  God directed the doctors to know what to do to heal Dad so that after 11 days in a coma, he was awakened and within just a few weeks after that, was home.

I could not imagine my life without the grace that God gives me.  Through His grace I am forgiven, loved, provided mercy, seen as righteous and promised eternal salvation.  Is there any other way to live? 

I invite you, if you don't know Jesus, you are missing out on a life full of love.  Dad wasn't saved because he was perfect. I was given those images because I'm God's favorite.  No, we are all living an imperfect life everyday.  We are all sinners but that is the beauty of the cross, you can come as you are and in God's perfect grace, He will make you perfect through Him. 

"The more we depend on God, the more dependable we find He is."- Cliff Richard.  We need to remember that we are insufficient.  We need to live a a life completely reliant on God knowing that He is sufficient enough.   It is in those moments when we see ourselves as insufficient that we realize just how great our God is and just how much He loves us. 

The grace of our lord Jesus Christ be with you. 1 Thessalonians 5:28

"F"reedom from the "E"nemy

I think we can all agree who the "enemy" I am referring to is.  Big picture, Satan.  Smaller picture, everything that causes us to stumble and sin.  In our moments of battle, we tend to console ourselves with the obligatory, "I'm only human" mantra.  But bottom line is, we know that God expects more from us. 

Do you realize that God won't let Satan push too far?  Even Jesus was face to face with the enemy in Matthew 4.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

God has this story in the Bible for us to see that the enemy is everywhere and will tempt all of us!  Satan is a liar.  He wants us to spend our money on wasteful things.  He desires us to desire things other than Jesus.  Satan tells us we aren't good enough, we aren't strong enough, we aren't brave enough, we aren't good parents, we aren't good students, we aren't good at anything.  Lies!  God tells us in Ephesians 4:27, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Once you give Satan the opportunity to step into your world, he won't leave.  He's a pot stirrer.  There is absolutely nothing better for him than to see you struggling and walking a path without God.  And we all face the enemy everyday.  If Jesus faced him, we surely must stand guard.  

So how can we set ourselves free from the enemy?  How can we stand firm in our beliefs when Satan is tearing us down daily?  Above all, we have this promise:

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.- Romans 16:20

God has promised us, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."- John 8:36

There is no world with God losing and Satan winning.  It doesn't exist.  Yes, we are only human but God is greater than any scheme Satan can throw at us.  God will not allow us to be tempted or tormented beyond what He feels we can handle.  AND furthermore, God walks with us through any temptation or torment that is put in our path.  Remind yourself right this minute, Jesus went and sacrificed himself on the cross for us mere humans.

Don't spend another moment allowing Satan to control your thoughts.  Friends, he is so not worth it!  Instead, fix your eyes on Jesus and remember what HE has done for you.  "Jesus Christ is the key which unlocks the door of the prison cell of our own making." (Kenneth Pillar)  Unlock the door, step into the light. 

Our battles are best won on our knees, in the Word and praying to God.  Freedom is ours.  We are the victorious ones who are given salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus.  We can't let Satan gain even a small foothold, or he will most definitely take a mile.  

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, 

there is freedom.- 2 Corinthians 3:17

If I've learned one thing this year in my Bible Study, it's that God is in the details.  God knows what Satan is doing in our lives even before we know what's coming.  But where God is, there is freedom from Satan, freedom from sin, freedom from bondage.  Step into the light.  Step out in faith knowing that God has you securely in His grip.  

We can't escape the schemes of sin and Satan on our own.  We will never be good enough, strong enough, brave enough, better enough to break the cycle of lies that Satan throws at us everyday.  Not one bit.  But Jesus IS.  Only Jesus can break the cycle of schemes and lies.  Freedom comes from God alone.  Don't give up.  Rest in the strength only God provides and never settle for the lies that Satan stirs up.  You, my friend, are a child of God.  You are strong through Him.  You are brave with Him by your side.  He will never leave you or forsake you.  Trust in Him who sacrificed His life for you so that you may live in freedom with Him.

"D"efining Success

The definition of success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.  Most of us view success as someone wealthy, someone "living the dream", someone who has everything they could ever want.  But is that really success by God's standards?  True, genuine success has very little to do with things, fame or money.  True success has everything to do with God.  God's love.  God's grace.  God's promises.  God's salvation.

With your perspective changed to what success truly is, as a believer in Christ, you begin to see success in everything.  Every blessing.  Every moment of life.  Every opportunity God gives you.  It's far to easy for us to look at what we don't have, what we lack.  And we envy and want what someone else has gotten.  "He who can give thanks for a little will always find he has enough." (Anonymous)

Take a moment and take a look at your surroundings, your life.  Take a quick inventory of everything in your life.  What do you see?  Do you see your life as a glass half empty or a glass half full?

God promises to supply all our needs, and he has promised that beyond what we can even begin to

think we need.  Remember the story in the Bible of Jesus feeding the five thousand with just a few loaves and fish?  That was a major success in God's eyes.  People had a need and God provided, and then some!

Could it be that we more often than not focus on what we lack instead of the blessings we have been given?  And if we took at moment to acknowledge that each and every blessing is a gift from God to us, would we be thankful and praise Him for it?  We should.  We need to remind ourselves daily that "Apart from me [Jesus] you can do nothing"- John 15:5.  Without God continually in our lives, we will never find enough successes for us to be satisfied.  Cliff Richard once said, "The more we depend on God, the more dependable we find He is".  Yep.  He sure is.  He is enough and HE is the one we should align our successes to.  In our insufficiency, Jesus is sufficient.

So instead of sitting around complaining that we didn't get the job we thought we wanted.  Complaining that we don't have enough money saved up.  Complaining that our kids aren't good enough, our house isn't big enough, my life isn't good enough; we need to look at our life as God sees us. 

"Winners see an answer for every problem; losers see a problem in every answer."- Barbara Johnson

"People judge us by the success of our efforts.  God looks at the efforts themselves.:- Charlotte Bronte

Don't get so caught up in the wants and failures of life that you miss out on true success from your Father in heaven.  Galatians 6:9, Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

There is a blessing and a success everyday with your name written on it.  God is a loving Father full of grace, compassion and mercy. 

Look at your life through His eyes.  See yourself as God views you.  Once you redefine what true success is, your total perspective will change and you will begin noticing all the true successes that are blessings to you each and everyday. 

"Success isn't the key.  Faithfulness is."- Joni Eareckson Tada

"B"oldness and "C"ourage

I don't know about you but sometimes I would rather just be a wall flower.  Far too often I walk a life of keeping my head down, diverting my eyes so that I don't have to acknowledge or get involved in a situation.  I am especially this way about sharing my faith with strangers.  But that is not what God has commanded us to do.  Doris Greig is quoted saying, " Those who are not yet in the family of Christ need us to be his hands, his feet, his eyes, his ears, and his voice to help them find God's love".

God has commissioned us to spread the good news of the Bible. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24

God has tasked us to serve him and bring others to him.  And the best part is we only have to plant the seed, God tends to the garden and does all the watering.  So if God does most the work, why is it so hard to step out and be bold for God?  Why is there fear in sharing the good news of the gospel?
We don't have to have a special skill set to share the love of Christ.  We don't have to be extroverted, a public speaker, a minister or fluent in the Bible.  We just have to be obedient and receptive to HOW God can use us to bring more children to Him.


I like how Catherine Marshall puts it, "Our commission is quite specific.  We are told to be His witness to all nations.  For us, as His disciples, to refuse any part of this commission frustrates the love of Jesus Christ, the Son of God".  

She's right, God is very specific on what we are to do.  We are to be a light to others.  We are to be a witness to Christ in our lives.  Are we perfect?  Nope.  Not even close.  We are gonna fail at this task.  But God is so good that He will use what we put out into the world for His good. 

 Romans 8:14 tells us, the true children of God are those who let God's Spirit lead them.  How amazing is that?  God doesn't even make us try to figure out how to step out in boldness, but rather, He gives us the Holy Spirit to intercede on our behalf.  If we would just be still for a moment and allow the Holy Spirit to step in, God can take over and amazing things can happen.  And need I remind us that God's words do not go out to an empty world?  It all gets used by God.  So it's not for us to figure out the how's, the why's or the when's but instead to step out boldly in faith knowing that God is using us to further His kingdom.  

So, how do we become bold?  How do we share the good news without it feeling like a burden?  Well, first, we have to pray.  We have to pray to God to give us the words we are to share and with whom.  God doesn't expect us to walk around baptizing everyone but He does expect us to share his
love.  We are to be His hands and feet.  Maybe boldness isn't even talking with words but rather with your actions and service.  Maybe the best way to show the love of Christ in you is in how you handle a situation.  


So as I sit here and look over what I've typed, I'm reminded that I need to trust as well.  I am reminding myself that I don't have to have all the answers.  I don't have to have all the scriptures from the Bible memorized.  I don't have to have a master's degree in Jesus.  I just have to have a servant and obedient heart and let my light shine, shine, shine!

God gives us the strength and the courage to meet any challenge or circumstance.  We are never without God in the middle of it all.  

Be strong and courageous, and do the work.  Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.  He won't leave you or forsake you. 1 Chronicles 28:20

Step our boldly and share the love of Christ.  Step out boldly in your actions and allow people to see the light of Christ in you.  

Our personal stories and our moments in life are important and God wants us to share them.  We must be courageous and unashamed to share our hurts in hopes that it will bring that someone who needs Jesus to His feet.  If you are a believer, the time to step out boldly is now.

"There are many timid souls whom we jostle morning and evening as we pass them by; but if only the kind word were spoken they might become fully persuaded."- Fanny Cosby

Be that kind word.  Be that bold soul.  Be the light of Christ.  Take a deep breath.  God is right there with you and the Holy Spirit is within you.  Be bold.  Be courageous.  

"A"nd we're off....

Today is the day...day 1 of the A to Z Challenge this year.  As I sit here staring at my computer screen I'm a bit unsure of where to start.  26 days.  26 letters.  26 posts.  It seems overwhelming but I know that I can (and will) do it!  So without further ado....hold on tight...buckle your seat belt...andddddd, we're off....

Once again this year, I feel led to just let go and let God work through me as I walk through this challenge.  It amazes me to look back over each entry to see how God's timing truly is in every little detail.  So, it is only fitting that if I'm going to incorporate my love for my Father into this challenge, then I need to acknowledge how God is the ultimate authority over all things.

In Revelation 22:13 is states, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End".  

When you think of authority, what comes to your mind?  People in charge?  Police? Parents? Bosses?

The definition of authority is:the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.
 

So think for a second about God and his authority.  Look at that definition.  Do you see God in that?  God has the power.  God gives us orders through His Word.  God makes decisions that are best for us.  And God requires obedience from His children.  Now I realize that some of you that are reading this may not be believers of God and I would have to ask you, why not?

God is the creator of the universe.  God knows all things.  God is IN all things.  Not a moment of life goes by without God being IN the details. God's words give us the instructions for life.  How foolish we are to not heed to His teachings.  God's words should be just as important as oxygen to our lives, a matter of life and death.

And giving God total and ultimate authority over your life allows you the privilege to be able to pray to God.  It allows you the opportunity to sit at His feet and let Him handle the chaos of your life.  It provides you with the freedom to break away from sin and live a life of salvation, righteousness and grace.  Oh friends...listen to my words.  Giving God ultimate authority over your life doesn't mean you give up life but rather you give up your old life and walk a new life with God.

Living in step with God allows us, as disciples of Christ, to have complete and total access to the only living God.  Jesus provided us the way to God when he sacrificed himself for our sins.  God tells us in John 14:3, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me".

These days people believe evangelistic materials and leaders.  People follow their moods and our cultures way of thinking instead of seeing God as the Master over their lives.  And believe me, there are days where I don't always stay on the right path but that, my friends, is the beauty of the love you can only get from God.  Forgiveness and grace.  God's ultimate authority isn't because he's a controlling God but rather because he is a loving God.

So take an inventory of your life.  Who or what has authority over it? Money?  Your job?  Your kids?  Your marriage?  Friends?  What is keeping you from giving God all authority over all aspects of your life?

Marie T. Freeman once said, "When you invite the love of God into your heart, everything in the world looks different, including you."   The word authority holds such astigmatism over people and their thoughts but imagine if you allowed God that authority.  Oh what sweetness can come from that.

So as we step out into this challenge this month, let me start by asking you to give God ultimate authority over your life.  Let me remind you that God loves you and will meet you where you are.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love.  The Lord is good to everyone; His compassion {rests} on all He has made. Psalm 145:8-9

My friends, don't lose another moment to allowing something or someone else to run your life.  Let Go and Let God have ultimate authority over all areas of your world.  You will be amazed at the results.  God wants only good for His children.

Lord, I give you these next 26 days.  I ask that you would guide my words as I share my blog so that it would be words that You want shared.  Father, I thank you for your boundless love and infinite grace that you give your children.  Thank you for working all things for our good.  Thank you for being the ultimate authority over our lives.  Amen

Goodbyes are Hard....but we will meet again...

I can still remember getting the call about my Grampa.  I was driving home from taking Matthew to school and my Dad told me to get home, fix a cup of coffee and give him a call right back.  I knew.  Before I even hung up the phone, I knew Grampa was gone.  And before I even had a chance to process this loss, we got the phone call that my mother in law was declining.  Twenty four hours later, she was gone as well. 

Two big losses in a short period of time and yet, I feel like I handled those so much better than this loss.  Maybe it's because my Gramma was still here to hold my hand through it all.  Maybe it's because she was strong for all of us.  I still remember her hugging me (even though I didn't want to be touched) in the funeral home and me telling her, you can't leave me.  And now, she has.

Grampa passed away in January 2012.  According to all the doctors, he should have been gone in October of 2011 but God covered him.  Instead of having tremendous pain, he just slowly declined.  And over the seven years that Grampa has been gone, I've looked differently at my Grandmother.  Oh the strength she had.  I can remember the first visit back after we said goodbye to Grampa and she shared with me that she was so angry.  Now she had to prep the coffee maker every night. She had to be the one to take out the trash.  All the jobs he used to handle now fell to her and she was just downright angry with my Grampa.  But in the same breath that she hollered at him, she also exuded such strength and courage.

My Gramma was a woman of such strength.  You never saw her cry, she saved that for the shower by herself.  In a crisis, she had control.  She never wilted under pressure.  She never let us see her sweat.

I never really realized the many layers of my Grandmother until I started spending time with her as an adult.  She would always say, "I'm spending Robert's money", and then she would tell me to book her a flight to come visit.  She visited every place we've ever lived.  And during her visits, I would have the luxury of spending one on one time with her.  I thought the stories my Grampa shared were a hoot, well, Gramma's were just as fun.

We would never do anything exciting on her visits but we were together.  I will miss her poking around antique stores with me the most.  Sure my mom enjoys going on her visits and Chris will go poke around with me but there is nothing like Gramma tagging along.  She was able to tell me stories about the different things we would find.  She was able to tell me what some of the items were used for.  She just knew all this stuff.  And the amount of stuff stuffed inside her brain was massive.  I wish I had taken the time to write it all down. 

I would love our morning coffee time.  We'd sit and just chat.  Sometimes we would chat about things in the family.  Sometimes she would share stories from earlier generations.  Sometimes we would just sit quietly together.  I will miss those moments. 

Gramma stayed busy after Grampa passed.  She stayed active in her church and her fellowship groups.  I feel so blessed to have met a few of these women after we buried Gramma.  I immediately felt at home with each of them.  And my heart was truly warmed when they said I was a little version of Lavern.  How flattering.  That's what I want to carry on for her.  I want to be a little bit like Lavern.  I want to have her strength, her determination, her ability to work through anything through prayer and trusting God. 

And so, as I begin this new normal without her a phone call away.  As I begin living my life knowing I will never sleep in her house again.  Knowing I will never be able to just sit and enjoy coffee with her again.  Knowing that she's not coming to visit and poke around antique stores with me again, I'm saddened but, I know my Grandmother would not accept tears.  She would want me to keep my chin up, my shoulders held high, my eyes to Jesus and a smile on my face because that's what she taught me.

There will be moments in life that I want to share with her and I can, just in a different way.  There will be times when I just need an answer and I'll have to summon my inner Lavern to figure it out just as I do with things I've wished my Grampa was here for.  There will be moments that I wish she could be on the sideline for and she will be, in my heart.  And then the day will come when I will hug her and Grampa again and they will say, "Well hi there sweetie". 

This loss is harder for me than I anticipated.  I'm struggling with the emotions and just trying to hold it all together.  I didn't anticipate this struggle and I'm working everyday to keep my eyes on Jesus to walk me through.  As my Grandmother told us at the closing of her service...

When I am gone, just release me, let me go-

so I can move into my afterglow.

You mustin't tie me down with tears; let's be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love, you can only guess how much you gave me in happiness.

I thank you for the love you each have shown, but now it's time I traveled on alone.

So grieve for me awhile, if grieve you must, then let your grief be comforted with trust.

It's only for a while that we must part, so bless the memories within your heart.

And then, when you must come this way alone, I'll greet you with a smile and a,

"Welcome Home".

Gramma would not want tears.  She would want me to step out into life and carry on.  She would want me to share the stories with my loved ones.  She would expect me to be brave.  Oh how I want to make her proud.  She made me so proud so many times with her bravery.  When she said goodbye to Grampa. The way she carried on with life without him for so many years.  When she chose to move into assisted living and leave her home.  When she chose to let go and let God welcome her to her heavenly home.  I will always be proud of my Gramma and her strength and bravery.  I will keep each and every memory tucked away in my heart.  And when I need her, I will feel her with me.  And when I'm not feeling strong enough, she will send me a bit of her strength.  And when I'm not brave enough, she will remind me through a whisper in my heart to put on the full armor of God. 

Life will be different but it will be ok.  For one day, she will greet me with a smile and a welcome home....oh what a homecoming that'll be in heaven.  Oh, I can't even imagine the homecoming she and Grampa had when she walked through the gates.  I can picture his smile and the twinkle in his eye.  His best friend was reunited with him again.  And that is the picture I will carry in my heart for always...they are together again.  Praise the Lord!