Over this past week, I feel as if I experienced every single emotion known to woman. Not feeling well was not helping in my mind set but I also know that so much of it was that this time last year my brother and I were boarding a plane to see our Daddy who was suffering with Stage 4 lung cancer. Honestly, neither one of us knew how bad it was until we saw him. The healthy (on the outside) man I had left just 2 months prior was barely skin and bones. It took everything in me not to just crumble when I saw him lying in his bed. As I laid my head on his chest to give him a hug, yet he made a grunt of sorts, it was then I realized that even my head was to heavy for him to hold. My daddy. My strong daddy was no longer strong.
Our days and nights over the next few weeks were filled with late night emergency rooms trips or regular appointments to receive fluids but as time went on nothing was working. Daddy's body was filled with the horrible cancer and he was getting tired. It became more and more obvious that our time with Daddy was ending. I was a constant by Daddys side, wanting to do whatever it was he needed. Drink, pull the covers tighter, blot his lips from being so dry, you name it, I just wanted to help him.
It was early summer 2 yrs. ago when we heard of Daddy's diagnosis. Lung Cancer. How did this happen? He hadn't smoked in 32 years. He hadn't done anything to speak of except take amazing care of his body. He was a runner. He watched what he ate. He took vitamins like crazy and would never take anything hardly except an aspirin and vitamin c tablets when sick. On the outside he was amazingly fit and healthy. But it was the inside that I knew needed to be healthy. I was a fairly new blogger when I heard of Dads diagnosis. It was at this time that I learned of the hearts of those that the Lord had connected me with. So many of you all prayed for Salvation for him. Sooo many of you covered us in prayer.
As I sit hear and reflect on those days with tears and with joy I can still recall the moment in which I heard daddy tell me he had asked Jesus to be his Lord and Saviour as he took my hand in his and woke up as clear as anything. It was such a gift and such of time of rejoicing. Angels were rejoicing as were all of those who had whispered a prayer on behalf of my Dad.
The Holidays are difficult to get through when you are missing your loved ones. I have read soooo many who have shared their sadness or their difficulty because they too have experienced a loss during this month. It doesn't matter when we lose them, it is not having them with us each and everyday that hurts.
I pray for all of those who are hurting and going through a difficult time. Please know that the Lord WILL Strengthen you, HE WILL Comfort you, and pour HIS Love over you as only a Father can. His HOPE carries me through the difficult moments, and sometimes it takes the whole day but the Lord reminds me that one day we will be together again.
Christmas in Heaven
I see the countless CHRISTMAS TREES around the world below
with tiny lights like HEAVEN’S STARS reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so SPECTACULAR please wipe away that tear
for I am spending CHRISTMAS WITH JESUS CHRIST this year.
I hear the many CHRISTMAS SONGS that people hold so dear
but the SOUND OF MUSIC can't compare with the CHRISTMAS CHOIR up here.
I have no words to tell you of the JOY their voices bring
for it is beyond description to HEAR THE ANGELS SING.
I know HOW MUCH YOU MISS ME, I see the pain inside your heart
for I am spending CHRISTMAS WITH JESUS CHRIST this year.
I can't tell you of the SPLENDOR or the PEACE here in this place
Can you just imagine CHRISTMAS WITH OUR SAVIOR face to face
I'll ask him to LIFT YOUR SPIRIT as I tell him of your love
so then PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER as you lift your eyes above.
Please let your HEARTS BE JOYFUL and let your SPIRIT SING
for I am spending CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN and I’m walking WITH THE KING.
~ by Wanda White
I ♥ you all!
Last Night's Christmas Service
1 day ago
14 comments:
Sharing the tears!! I've really been shedding a few of my own lately!! You are so right though, the Lord will and has strengthened us!! Praying for you.
Love you
I am so sad and so happy and I thank you for sharing your Dad's loss and that beautiful Christmas in Heaven!
I can understand how you feel as Christmas approaches. I must admit that I was a basket case the first Christmas after my wife died of cancer. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and I didn't even feel like putting up a tree. The kids were on their own by then, so the house just seemed dark and lonely.
I was blessed to meet Betsy a couple of years later and now our house is bright and warm at Christmas, and I feel that way as well.
Thanks for sharing the Christmas in Heaven poem with us.
What a touching post Miss Loren :)
We love you bunches!
oh, Loren. So beautiful. The tears in my eyes are for you and for me. Perhaps our daddy's have met each other up in heaven and will spend Christmas together!
Love that poem! I am missing my mom this year.
My eyes are filled with tears. Beautiful post!
Hugging you,
Mary
I hope just typing out your thoughts and feeling helped. I know it does for me sometimes, and it also allows others to enter into your heart and the sorrows that might lie there. By sharing it also helps us to know how and what to pray for one another. Just as I will for you. I know this month is EXTRA hard for my own dad..he lost his first wife(my two brothers mother), on Christmas Eve...many years ago. But he always gets extra quite around that time. We try and be aware of his emotions on that evening. Thanks for sharing Loren...thinking of and praying for you during this time. Love you.
Beautifully said. I love the poem also. Excellent! For someone who cannot remember a holiday without the overcast clouds of a loved one's death (my mom died when I was 10) I understand the pain and deep sadness that can often accompany the holidays. What joy there is for those whose hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ! To know that one day we'll spend,not only Christmas, but every other day with our loved ones face to face with Jesus as well! Powerful post!
Thank you for a lovely post and know that my heart and prayers are with you especially during this time.
My dad also passed away on Dec.2007 from colon ca. My mom on Dec.2000. I surely miss them both...Praying that all those wonderful memories with your dad will comfort you sister. And yes, glory be to God for His love that can heal a broken heart! Love to you.
Hi! Loren, I know Girl, I know! And that poem , my daughter fixed a picture of my mom & dad, with that poem, and framed it for me. She gave it to me the Christmas after my Mom died for they died 11 months apart. And just yesterday I was able to read it again. How Awesome that it appeared on your site. Loved this post! Hope you are filling better:), Love and Prayers! Ps~ Love your new Look:)
Sending big hugs to you dear Loren, I too have a heavy heart every year this time, I know my husband and son are spending Christmas in heaven and I am so thankful for that but I still miss them so.....:-)Hugs
Praying for you, my friend. I am so glad that you shared him with us, too~ often, I think of the posts he wrote on here and am glad that we got to know your Daddy just a little bit. Love you.
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