Dear family and friends,
Early this afternoon my sweet sister-in-law Julie breathed her last. Her hospital room was filled with her loving family including her husband (my brother), her two daughters and two sons, daughter-in law, granddaughter, two sisters-in-law, nephew (Grayson) AND her 101 year old mother. While Julie's battle has been long, the end came quickly today leaving her family with a bit of disbelief.
The tears mixed with smiles as we gazed for the last time on her gentle, smiling face. There were extra long hugs as we held each other and tried to process what life will be like without the vibrant, happy, loving central figure in her family. She meant so much to so many of us.
The hollow feeling after we left the hospital this evening was filled with the promise of warm memories, hope, and a renewed determination to love each other better.
Within minutes of my leaving the hospital, Brant arrived home, Austin and Xixi came by to return a borrowed car (and join us for dinner), and my birthday gift from Lauren arrived. After the tearing apart in the hospital, I received the gift of family togetherness.
The gift from Lauren is a figure of a mother and daughter embracing. The timing couldn't have been more perfect.
Embrace each other tonight.
In peace and hope for tomorrow,
Regina
Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
1There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteRegina, the sorrow of parting with your beloved sister-in-law must be so very hard. Please know that your post about her passing is a blessing to those who read it.... and helps us remember the time for everything is in God's hands.
ReplyDelete