It has been almost a year since I have been here to blog. It isn't because I haven't had anything to say, it is mainly because I got tired of talking about my struggles.
This past week my 94 year old great aunt passed away. She spent the better part of her last 50 years a loner, she worked till she was 84 and retired mainly because her memory began to fail. She lived alone, had no friends, was content to read sit home and read books and shop through the mail.
12 days ago she was sent from the Nursing home to the hospital with bad blood circulation in her leg, turned her foot black from toes to her ankle. Scary. Her kidneys were also shutting down. Doctors said they would not perform surgery. It was only a matter of time. And for 10 days, I sat with her, held her hand, told her God loved her, God would take care of her, I prayed over her, cried tears when she became non-responsive on day 7, and continued to tell her I loved her. I knew where she was going, I knew she knew the Lord, I knew God would heal her and that the journey was ending. As I watched her slip away I kept thinking how lonely she must have been before she moved to San Antonio and my dad and I became her family. And God reminded me that he loved her first, he loved her always and he loved her now. She once even said to me that love had a hold on her (which totally reminded me of an Amy Grant song from many years back).
So on Wednesday, she took her last breath. I was at peace because I had already told her everything I had wanted to say including that I loved her. SHe is the last person in her family to pass on, she will join her parents and her 6 siblings. I believe Jesus met her at the gates and took her hand to walk her home.
I have always believed that life is a journey. This week I realized God's love journeys with us from first breath to sigh. And that comforts me.
