SKNNAB
Big Cheese
Disciple
Warm Fuzzies 37
Age: 51
Location: I
Posts: 4209
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« on: Early October, last year » |
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I shared in a very special service this weekend for my sister-in-law and friend, Sue.
There were many wonderful testimonies shared about Sue and her life.
Here is one of those testimonies from Gail.
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I was wonderfully blessed to spend time with Sue for a few hours one evening a few weeks ago. Today, I'd like to share with you some of those blessing and how I know Sue was at peace with these words from Solomon. (Ecclesiastes 3: "There is a time… for everything.") I'd like to share the message of peace, comfort, love and hope that she left with me.
Sue and I met many years ago through Doug, but I really didn't know her well. When I sat in her room with her that night, I immediately felt as though I had known her forever. Her spirit seemed to fill the room, and her peace wrapped around me.
She began our conversation by talking with me about her "process" of facing death. She said, "You know, if I had heard that I only had a few weeks to live when I was younger, I'd have cried for days. I did cry at first, but I really don't feel like crying now. I just want to absorb all of the wonderful things that I am experiencing right now. " She talked about the deep connectedness she was feeling during visits with people she's known for a long time to people she'd just met, like the nurses. She shared touching stories about the depth of the relationships, the ministry she was receiving, and that she just wanted to soak it up because it was so wonderful. One story she told me was of a sweet nurse that she connected with immediately. The nurse had given her a palm-sized silver angel, which Sue often held in her hand.
I think Sue had re-written Solomon's words (Ecc 3:) as she explained HER "season under heaven." Sue glorified God by revealing her faith, her peace in knowing she had a sovereign God, a God that was surrounding her with goodness and love. Doug, Paul, and J.D., I hope you can find comfort in knowing how much peace, comfort and love she was experiencing and how much she was sharing with others. Sue was sharing God's peace and love with those around her, like the nurses, and giving THEM hope and comfort.
Throughout that evening I watched as Sue faced many struggles and medical procedures with courage, not once did she complain, not once did she act out in anger or frustration; not once did she ask, "Why?"
When Merlene returned, she and Sue told me about the great depth of ministry they had felt in their moments of prayer together, and how filled they were with the holy spirit. Then Merlene said, "Sue, did you tell Gail about the hand?" So Sue began to tell me about a hand she'd been feeling. She described the hand as larger than her own and very strong. She said that throughout the day she would feel the hand. Sometimes it would be placed on her head, or her shoulder, or maybe her leg. The hand felt so real that she would turn quickly to see who was there. Of course, she could see no one. Each time she'd feel the hand she'd feel comfort and peace.
We closed the evening with prayer and anointment with oil. When we were through, she held our hands, looked into our faces, and said, "I'm not ready to go yet." I said, "You know, I don't think He's ready for you yet. You have some more time to spend with your friends and family. More to soak in." Doug, Paul, and J.D., while Sue may not have been able to communicate as clearly in her remaining weeks, I am sure she was soaking each of you in.
I know in my heart that Sue is with her Father in Heaven, and I hope you as well are left with the hope that comes from knowing you will later join her there. In the words of the apostle Paul, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither powers, nether height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
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