Accepting Death
I recently visited a lady who is 103 years old! Throughout her life, she’s been faithful to the Lord. When I visited her today, she tried to talk, but her speech was mumbled. I might have misunderstood her, but knowing her as I do, I would not dispute what she seemed to say. “I’m dying,” are the words I heard. And immediately my thoughts went to Revelation 14:13. How sweet!
She was very sleepy, and according to her family, this is what she does most of the time. The medical staff at the facility where she lives have placed her in “end life visitation” for obvious reasons. The last I was able to visit this wonderful lady was in 2019 (before COVID). She knew me immediately, and her bright smile was so refreshingly pleasant to see! Granted, she couldn’t hear me, and the answers to my questions became rather humorous when she answered what she thought she heard. But one thing was sure. “Have a prayer with me before you go,” she insisted! I thought of that today as well, and worded a prayer!
When I returned home, another announcement came my way about two folks exceeding four-score years and ten. The wife of this team has been in a skilled nursing unit for several months, and today I learned that the husband is in ICU having suffered a serious stroke and contracted C-Diff. As their son-in-law told me, “We don’t know which will go first.” But again, both are ready because they have proven to be faithful children of God for many, many years!
A third time on this same day, I learned a dear friend, now past 102 years, is nearing her departure from this world. I last visited with her two years ago with another preacher who adores her as I do. She told us then, “I’ve been ready to go for a long time, but just can’t convince God it’s time to go!” (She’s always had a great sense of humor.) She’s ready … she’s made sure of it since the day she obeyed the gospel!
I muse on the longevity of these dear friends. I’ve yet another who is past 100 years old and has only a few nieces and nephews and a brother-in-law and his wife to mourn when she passes. She’s ready as well and told me more than twenty-five years ago when I buried her husband, “I’m next and I am ready.” She’s remained ready; every time I visited her before her confinement at the nursing home, she reminded me, “I just sitting here waiting for when I’m to go.” I muse on what she meant … and rejoice in the sweetness of such readiness. Would to God all Christians were at such peace with their souls as these precious ones!