4-36pm
What to do? What to do? Granny is due to turn 88 in August. The 2nd eldest of 8 children, Granny was always extremely close to her older sister Helen, who was born in 1922. Helen & Granny were inseparable as young girls and very close throughout adulthood. It has only been in their advanced old age that they have no longer been able to communicate or correspond. Yesterday, the news came, Helen has passed away, a few months shy of her 90th birthday. I always said when Helen died, I would not tell Granny. Why? Because, what good would it achieve? It would only upset her. But now that the event has occurred and this special life has ended & the unspoken bond severed, I feel I am denying Granny something. I know that if I told her, she would understand AND she would be distressed and devastated. I sort of think that that might be the end of her as well. She may crawl into bed and never again get up. But, withholding the news of a loved ones death just seems wrong. I think it is the kind thing to do. Just leave Granny be. She can’t communicate, so she can’t ask about Helen and the rest of the family. When they call, I tell her who I spoke to and how they are, but she can’t ask ‘How is Helen?’ So I grieve quietly on my own, knowing Granny’s heartache would be oh, so much greater. Her beloved sister is not here. The last conversation I had with Helen was a couple of years ago. We actually talked about heaven and how wonderful it will be when both she and Granny are there with Jesus, never to be separated again. She agreed it would be wonderful. So once again, as the end of an earthly life comes, we are reminded that we live in hope. (John 11:26) Jesus said, ‘whoever lives and believes in Me, will never die.‘ Yes, Helen’s earth-bound life is over – now a fabulous new one has begun.
Meanwhile, at CCFm, we had a staff meeting and rejoiced with Promise whose wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl this week. Here is Promise explaining his daughter’s name…
I’m sitting on my bed drinking coffee and gearing up for a relaxing evening. Tomorrow is Friday!
Many rich blessings!
In His Grip,
Helga x 🙂