We got up early today for an 8 a.m. funeral. Chema , 40 years old, mother of two, died of breast cancer slightly more than 24 hours ago. It was as expected as the death of a young ,gravely ill mom can be but the loss is keen and deep for her sister Diana, our close friend and another sister not to mention Chema's husband and children. Diana's mom died only weeks ago and her dad has been gone almost ten years. One major loss after another.
We sat through the mass and then went with multi others to the grave site. Wreaths and floral arrangements in abundance and even the classmates of her children came to pay their last respects.. The sun beat down mercilessly even at 9:30 a.m. and the sweat poured off the observers and the workers alike as the cement was poured into the frame that now held the last earthly remains of Chema.
We have seen and known of so much sadness in the last 7 years that we have lived here. Only months ago Yarit's father was murdered by an unknown assailant in their small store where they sold cases of beer. Her grief was so palpable for she did not hold back her anger , sorrow , loss and defeat. It was "in our face".
The incident I mentioned in my previous blog was an official and his son in two vehicles both murdered in cold blood moments before we came on the scene. We may never know why.
The reality is that death comes to the young and the old the wicked and the righteous. All of us need to be ready to face that day.
Tues.
I went to the General Hospital again to give support to whomever needed it as the Lord directed. Today a 31 day old infant who had been born prematurely was fighting for his life in the emergency room which is the only place with life saving equipment in the hospital. He had fought so hard to live and managed so well and then suddenly... His mother and grandparents were in the waiting area as mom could not bear to watch the staff struggle to get a few drops of blood from her infant. I encouraged her to go in and let her baby hear her voice and to tell him to fight the battle as hard as he could and to trust that God's plan for her baby is always the best.
Sometimes I hear myself talking to patients and staff and I know what I say is true and maybe at times even wise but I also am very aware that it is not that easy and that I too, in their place, would be struggling to believe that God is good and knows all before it happens. So here is where it stands in Psalms 139
13For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
He knows our beginning and He knows our end. We can trust Him.
Why then is it so hard for us to live for Him??
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