Not to be negative, but we were all born to die. Ecclesiates 3 tells us there is a time for everything, including being born and to die. Someone once said we do things the opposite in that we should cry when they are born into this cruel world and celebrate when they die if we know they are going to heaven. I agree, however, it is really hard not to celebrate when you have that baby or grandbaby.
While we do miss the person who dies, it is a comfort to know if they are in heaven and that we will see them again in heaven. I’m thankful I haven’t lost anyone who we didn’t know where they were going.
We just had to make a quick trip to Texas — yes during the hurricane — because David’s stepmother died. She was pretty much the only mother he knew because his birth mother died when he was about four or five.
It’s been three years since we visited relatives in Texas so even though this was a sad occasion, it is like a family reunion. Tyler is north of where Hurricane Harvey hit so we didn’t get a whole lot of rain, though it did rain the day of Vivian’s funeral. We came back Sunday, leaving early and driving straight through which is tough the older I get. With the reports on Monday though it was a blessing we did come home when we did, because Shreveport, which we drive through, was going to be hit with some heavy rains and flash flooding. However, some family members live in Houston and other areas affected by the hurricane. Some were having to evacuate. If you have never experienced it, you just can’t imagine the devastation and how overwhelming the situation becomes. I was in Hawkinsville during the flood of 1994 and while it came within a half mile of our house, we were spared. But, I saw the devastation first hand of people being uprooted from their homes and losing everything. It was nowhere near the proportion of what is happening in Texas so I can’t even imagine the scope. So please pray for Texas.
David’s family has accepted me with open arms from day one and I’m very appreciative of that fact. I have always felt like one of the family.
I don’t know anything about Vivian except what I have been told and what I gleaned from meeting her on several occasions. She always treated me graciously and would send me cards on my birthday every year. In fact, she was known for her cards she sent to not only relatives but to friends.
She was also known as a prayer warrior and we have prayed for each other on numerous occasions. She once told me that I was what the ultimate Proverbs 31 woman. It was quite a compliment to me. She also loved to laugh and had many adventures all around the world including being baptized in the Jordan River.
One of the things I love about David’s family is they all have a sense of humor. It took a little while to get used to it and understand it with David, but once I did, I really appreciate it most of the time. It is a little like my dad’s in that he had a dry sense of humor at times. They like to tease and joke. So, there is never a short supply of laughter when they are together. Laughter is the best medicine they say and I believe it.
In fact, I think that in tough discussions and situations, you should have to laugh first before you talk. Laughter changes your whole demeanor and attitude.
With the hurricane situation, hotel rooms were becoming scarce, but David’s sister, Kathey, graciously let us use her little bungalow which is located on a lake. It was perfect. We even got to love on her furbaby, Sam, so we wouldn’t miss ours so much. We decided it would just be too much and there wouldn’t be anyone to let her out when needed so my daughter house and dog sat for us. It was the first time we have ever left her because we always take her on trips. But she loves Cally and Jeff and is used to them so it was a little easier to not stress about leaving her.
While visiting with relatives you haven’t seen in a while is great, there is nothing like walking into the door or your home once the trip is over. We were greeted by a furbaby who wanted to make up for the lost time of not getting her usual amount of petting and attention. Of course, she had to sit in my lap. She was wound up and didn’t want to settle down for the night. We walk every morning and so Monday she was impatient to get out and walk. She kept trying to get me to hurry up by whining and trying to talk. And, she wanted her treat. Quite the con-artist she usually manages to get one from David and then one from me.
Coming home I realized how much we had left undone before we left. We left on the spur of the moment after getting the news about Vivian and didn’t have a lot of time to do anything but pack.
You really aren’t focusing when you receive that kind of news. I had left dishes in the dishwasher without turning it on and clothes in the washing machine which needed to be put in the dryer. Of course, all of that can be caught up and doesn’t seem like such a chore in the scheme of things. While it was good to be home, the truth is this world is not our home. We are just visitors here and one day those of us who accepted Christ will go to our heavenly home. Then we really will feel like it’s home, sweet home. Vivian is there now. Blessings.©2017
VICTORIA SIMMONS is an author, columnist, motivational speaker, minister and publisher of The Georgia Post/Byron Buzz. Contact her at: vsimmons54@gmail.com