When we think of Thanksgiving, we think of the pilgrims, their meal with the Indians, and a gathering of our family, with a great meal to come. We never think of 'death'....but it's there. Death is 'just around the bend' for each of us - death is sure, unless God calls us in the rapture before our earthly death. But we don't think that it will happen 'today' precisely. That's why each of us should be ready, whatever the hour or the day.....HE comes for us when our time is HIS TIME.

The week of Thanksgiving, on Tuesday, we had buried my best friend's Mother. She was a wonderful, loved, Christian lady, ready to meet the Lord and get her new, non-suffering body. She had been sick for so long, and she had a massive stroke a week or so before, and the Doctors said she'd never be any better- that she would remain in the coma she was in, if she lived or died. But God had other plans; she woke up on . . .

When we think of Thanksgiving, we think of the pilgrims, their meal with the Indians, and a gathering of our family, with a great meal to come. We never think of 'death'....but it's there. Death is 'just around the bend' for each of us - death is sure, unless God calls us in the rapture before our earthly death. But we don't think that it will happen 'today' precisely. That's why each of us should be ready, whatever the hour or the day.....HE comes for us when our time is HIS TIME.

The week of Thanksgiving, on Tuesday, we had buried my best friend's Mother. She was a wonderful, loved, Christian lady, ready to meet the Lord and get her new, non-suffering body. She had been sick for so long, and she had a massive stroke a week or so before, and the Doctors said she'd never be any better- that she would remain in the coma she was in, if she lived or died. But God had other plans; she woke up on Thursday afternoon before the Lord took her to be with him that following Sunday. She spoke to all her family, and was able to give them her last words of encouragement, but her body was sickly, in much pain. She's no longer in pain - she's with the Lord.

Wednesday came and went and Thursday morning, Thanksgiving arrived, without any big events. Our family got together at my home for dinner and a snack later. We played with the grandkids outside; in other words, did our usual things. But events were to change; death had claimed another victim. This time, it was to be my husband's brother-in-law, who only lives with his wife up the road from us. Such a sad thing to hear his wife say that he hadn't 'made it home before dark from the river', a place where he went to be alone, enjoy his fishing!! He loved it and so approporiate to be there when he met his Saviour. We didn't know anything was wrong, but feared it was, since he's been very sickly with his heart and we expected a heart attack, but not a drowning!! But he knew GOD as his personal Saviour and was in a glorious service that Tuesday night before, a church member relayed to me, in which he said "I want to be closer to the Lord"....FOLKS, he's there - he's arrived - he's with the Lord...As my nine year old grandson told his mother as he viewed his great-uncle, "That's not his body; he's walking the streets of gold!" And I know at that time, Roy was smiling down at us. He's closer than he's ever been.

Sunday morning as we prepared to walk out the door to go to his funeral, the phone rang - death had claimed another victim. BUT was he a victim, but a winner of the ultimate goal all three of these people had pressed toward in their earthly lives, eternity with our Lord? This was one of my Daddy's cousins, another who loved God with all his heart, mind, and soul, and it showed on his face, in his countenance, just as it did with Roy and my friends' Mom. You just knew what they felt in their hearts and 'in whom' they believed!

Psalms 6:5 For in death [there is] no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

It's a loss to those of us left behind. But they are in a better place. We are left here to thank GOD, that they belonged to him. Thank God that we knew them, through the lives they led, through the testimony that they left behind!! It's saddening just to have to write this, but we can be comforted by his word. He is present in our time of need; we only need to call upon his name! One of the singers came to me before the service and said, "I don't think I can make it through this". I hugged her neck and said, "yes, you can, but if you feel yourself slipping, HAVE CHURCH! That's what Roy would have wanted." At several points, I saw her arms go out, and God got her through that difficult time. He comforted her through it all, just as he will comfort each of those who have lost a loved one. Death is sure, but HIS LIFE is eternal.....BY HIS GRACE, they have made it through.

Copyright 2006 by Barbara Sanders, Empire, AL. Used by permission.
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