Hello Home Sweet Home

Last night at 9:45, my Grandma had the grandest party of her life, walked for the first time in years, and sang with thousands of angels. Last night, my Grandma saw with perfect vision (no more glasses) her Savior who was nailed to the cross. Last night my Grandma said her final goodbye to the pain and sorrow of this life and was welcomed into paradise, saying hello to the glory before her.

Revelations 21:4 paints the picture of the promise of Heaven, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

My dad told me of his evening last night as he told us the news of Grandma. "The little girls were unsure how to pray for this whole situation as I tucked them in to bed. Layne prayed for a good night's sleep (as usual), for Mom and finished by saying, 'Help Grandma to have a good day tomorrow.' Then Lisa prayed and I finished -- our normal rotation for bedtime prayer. I looked up at Layne and said, 'How did you know to pray for that? Tomorrow will be the best day Grandma's ever had.' And sure enough, an hour later she entered the presence of the Lord."

As I pondered over the never-ending joy promised us in the Bible and pictured my Grandma entering into it, I was reminded again that THIS is what we are living for. We are living for that moment of seeing Jesus face to face, of worshiping and glorifying Him with all the angels. We are living for more than what we can see, something that extends past what we can comprehend. In my head, I could picture my Grandma lying on her death bed, with nothing left to offer this world. We all will face a similar experience, but it is what happens in the next moments that matters. With this thought, the small trifles of life seemed to fade away, and the glory of God shown forth in my soul as the ONLY true purpose of my life.

My Grandma taught me many things in her life...Don't touch a hot iron, how to wash dishes by hand, and how to sew simple patterns. But I'm learning something far more valuable in her death.

I wrote a song this last week in honor of my Grandma...

For eighty-one years, she'd seemed so strong
But now the time had come for letting go
She'd always smiled to hide the pain
Fighting to live another day.

But as she lay upon her bed
Helpless, old, and empty
She whispered off a prayer and said
"I'm ready."

Goodbye memories
Goodbye yesterdays
Goodbye
Goodbye fears and shame
Goodbye tears and pain
Goodbye, but hello home

He was only sixteen
When the doctor said
"Son, you only have a few more weeks."
Late at night, he'd cry
Himself to sleep
Dreaming of the future he'd never see

But deep inside his heart he knew
That there was something more
He whispered off a prayer and said
"I'm yours."

Goodbye memories
Goodbye yesterdays
Goodbye
Goodbye fears and shame
Goodbye tears and pain
Goodbye, but hello home
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Hello joy unending
Hello shining city
Hello
Hello choir of angels
Hello mighty Savior
Hello, my home sweet home

Goodbye...Hello
I'm home