Wednesday
Dear Elsie,
Today was the day Oupa quietly slipped away from this life and entered eternity. He’s no longer in pain. No suffering. His broken body has been replaced with a new one and he is at peace – in heaven – with Jesus and all those who have gone before. He died during the early hours of the morning while you were still asleep. This is a hard time for your parents who have been exemplary in their treatment of your Oupa. It’s been a very tough journey. It was only 2 months ago today that we sat with him at Grandparent’s Day. We will miss him.
Our thoughts have very much been in Swellendam today. We are so grateful that Oupa made it through Christmas and passed away on a working day so everything was able to be sorted. It was also fortuitous that he was able to be collected before you woke up Elsie. God was gracious in His timing. Also we are grateful that he didn’t linger & that he was at peace before he died. He knew where he was going. This gives us peace as well.
When I end each day’s blog with ‘we are only passing through’ it is for this eventuality. Ron has passed. He’s gone to our eternal home – the one that we wait for. We live but a moment in this world compared to all eternity that lies ahead. We live in a broken world, but when we leave this earthly body and are taken up to heaven, it’s a new life – an eternal life – one that we cannot imagine. One day you may read these words and the writer of them will be in that place – eternal life – above the sun – where for us everything is new. While those left behind mourn Oupa’s passing, he does not. He is rejoicing. He is complete. He is healed and whole and his true life if just beginning. Here on earth, we cling to what we know. That’s why it’s so hard to let go – to embrace death – to not get sad when someone passes away. This is all we know. But I believe what we are waiting for is beyond what we can imagine. The best is yet to come.
I love you my family. We are praying for you.
Psalm 116:15
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.
It’s not about now – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Gran xx