Saturday, January 22, 2011

Mourning and celebrating


I'm sorry it's been so long, again, since I posted last but I honestly haven't felt much like posting lately. I haven't been able to find the words to post lately. On January 5th my sweet father-in-law went home to be with our Savior. He took his last breaths in his home surrounded by his loving wife of almost 40 years and his four boys. I got to be a witness the night before when they made the decision to bring him to the ER to get his pain under control. I witnessed the most beautiful outpouring of love and prayer I have ever witnessed. My husband and his brothers all wept and told him how they loved him and were there for him. They read to him from his Bible, verses of encouragement, mostly Psalms. It was so amazing to watch. I am so grateful that he is at peace and that he is with Jesus Christ, he devoted his life to reading God's word and now he is in his Kingdom! We are really trying to celebrate the life he lived, but I am so sad for the memories that we won't be able create with him. I am sad that my son will never know his Grandfather in this life. I am sad that we had to watch such a strong man whittle away to weakness and frailty. It is a process and one that I have to admit most of us are going through really well but I worry about my youngest brother-in-law. He is my age and is divorced with a son who lives with his mother several states away. He lost his wife, his son, his job, his home, his vehicle and his license. After his wife left with their son he took up drinking heavily which led to the loss of everything else. He is living with my mother-in-law and has been for awhile now so he had to help with his father's care for the last month or so of his life and it has taken a toll on him. He is laid off for the winter and is falling into a depression. Please pray for him, his name is Jeff and I love him like he's my own brother and I'm really worried about him. Please also prayer for the rest of the family for understanding and peace.