7-52am
Yesterday morning, before I went on air, I stepped out onto the CCfm balcony, which is on the 3rd floor. A magnificent sunrise was unfolding. With Granny’s passing fresh in my mind, I thought to myself that she would certainly have a different perspective of the beautiful reds and oranges that were splashed across the sky in a design only God could manufacture. My camera couldn’t do it justice…
Mike has the rest of the week off to start winding up Granny’s estate and arrange the memorial service which will be next Tuesday 15th October at 2pm at the Fish Hoek Methodist Church. Granny loved flowers and gardening and she seemed to gravitate towards purple plants, so my intention is to attach a sprig of fresh lavender to each service sheet. I have also had plenty of time to think about what I will say at the service. Granny had a settled place deep in my heart. I often have tried to figure out why. I only really got to know her properly after she came to live with us. We didn’t ‘click’ in the way that I have clicked with others, but her servant heart and constant work towards helping the family endeared her to me. As she became more fragile, I became more protective. I was quite determined to never let her go. I wanted to nurse her to the end. I wanted her to die at home in her own surroundings. But by the beginning of this year, we realised that it was now no longer safe for her to be left alone at night. We needed 24 hour care for her. And so the difficult decision was made to move her to where she could get the attention she needed. And that was when we applied to the Ladies Christian Home. The Lord provided that place. The staff were so caring and made Granny as comfortable and happy as possible. Mike & I visited 4 times a week. She had lived with us, so 4 times a week seemed so little. More than once I said to Mike we should try find a way to live in town so I could have tea with her every day. We saw a gradual decline in her health, eventually malignant lumps were found, she weakened, became bedridden and finally, old and full of years, she slipped into the presence of God. For at least a year, she had been indicating her desire to be with Jesus, which is much better. Today, we rejoice that Granny can say
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
We grieved at her bedside over the last week. Her absence leaves a gap in our lives and we will miss her, but we know that she is supremely happy and that in turn makes us happy.
Today, there is lots of work to be done in regard to doing an inventory of her things and helping Mike start wrapping up her estate. God is good and we give Him thanks.
God bless you loads.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂