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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

A Beautiful Experience

I took the day off work today and went with my sister Valerie (#3) and my Mom to visit my Aunt Rosemary.  I hope she doesn't mind me saying this, but the doctor's have not given her long to live and to be quite honest, while I truly wanted to go see her, my heart and my mind were struggling.  I don't think I'm all that different from most people in that "cancer", "sickness", "death" are all words that scare me.  I struggle with knowing what to say and how to act.  I also don't want to fall apart. (Because I'm pretty much a big ball of emotions anyway.)

Rosemary Karen and Mom

Aunts Rosemary and Karen, and Mom

Rosemary_and_Patricia

Aunt Rosemary and Mom (or is that Allison and me?)

Beach_Babes

A family friend, Mom, and Aunt Ro

This is my mom's sister.  Whom she dearly loves. They're only 13 months apart. They have been close all their lives.  It is a chapter I don't really want to walk through.  I don't want my cousins to have to walk through it.  I don't want my Mom and her siblings to have to walk through it.  No one wants to.

But, I'm so glad I went today.  Like the last time I went to see my Aunt, I came away blessed.  She was so at peace and so happy, even though she is SO sick.  I heard her and my mom talking about all the company she has been having lately and she said, "Yes, and I'm loving every minute of it!"  And you could tell she meant it.  She followed that by saying, "It's as if God has given me a great gift to be able to feel well enough to enjoy having my family home."  All her children were home at one time last week to spend time with her.

My mother always told me that when she was with her father as he was dying, she saw God at work through it all.  She describes it as "a beautiful experience".  My grandfather loved the Lord and was ready to go home to Him and to his beloved wife who had passed away 6 months before him.

I can see the hand of God in my Aunt's journey.  I see how real He is to her.  I am so grateful that He is sustaining her and giving her strength and courage to face her difficult and pain-filled road.

I truly admire you, Aunt Rosemary.  I am so blessed by your spirit and your beautiful testimony.

This verse keeps coming back to me this week.  I wrote about it in my last post.  And the Preacher posted on it today.  It reminds me of you, Aunt Rosemary.

"For I know that my Redeemer lives,
      And He shall stand at last on the earth;

And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
      That in my flesh I shall see God,

Whom I shall see for myself,
      And my eyes shall behold.."

8 comments:

His Doorkeeper said...

Your whole family should be blessed by Rosemary's gratefulness and great strength.

The Lord does provide His strength when all else seems like loss.

We are praying for your Mom and all your family. Glad you had this special day to visit with your sweet aunt.

Becky said...

I'll be praying for your family.

Leigh Ann said...

I love what your aunt said about her company being a gift. She sounds like such a wonderful lady. I'm glad you had a special visit with her, Jacquie, and I'll be sure and say a prayer for your family. Hugs!

Anonymous said...

I will be praying for you and your family. I am so glad she seems to be upbeat and well enough to visit. Very special times that you will never forget.

Kelly said...

Jacque- I'm so sorry about your aunt but I'm glad you are getting to spend time with her.

Betsy said...

It must be so sad to see your aunt so very sick. But at the same time, it is such a testimony to see how much strength and peace God gives people who are so close to the end of their lives!

I am always encouraged and inspired by people whose faith is so real that it shines even when they are facing death. I hope I am like that one day.

StitchinByTheLake said...

I'm a fellow Arkansas and just found your blog. What a wonderful post. My husband has thankfully recovered from melanoma but I can testify that cancer is such a devastating disease. Attitude makes so much difference - and seeing God's hand in every step of our lives, even our deaths, is a blessings to all those around us. blessings, marlene

Anonymous said...

Hi Jacquie, This your aunt Vera. Mary got in touch and let me know about things. I am sorry. There is not anything to really say except I LOVE ALL OF YOU and never ever stopped.Tell Rosemary I think of her all the time.Lori told me sometime ago and I have been praying for her mom ever since. I send all my love and peace to you all Love Vera