“…….All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.”  Psalm 139:16

This week I said “goodbye” to my dear sister, Ruthie.  She left this earth and went to her eternal home in heaven.  She was one of the few people in the world who knew me from the time of my birth, she was 2 ½ years older than me.  My earliest memories consist of my life with her growing up in California and Michigan, sleeping in the same bed, walking to school, telling each other secrets and sharing clothes.  We had the same sense of humor and we were soulmates.  As adults, although 2,000 miles separated us, we remained good friends.

Ruthie had a simple faith.  We were raised in a Christian home and at a young age, she accepted Christ as her Savior.  Her job each week was to teach me the memory verse for Sunday school.  Sometimes it was an easy task and sometimes I could be difficult!  But one verse she repeated often was:  1 John 1:7, “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”  Whenever we were asked in Sunday school to quote a verse, she would raise her hand and repeat 1 John 1:7. Maybe it was because it was simple and short, I don’t know! Ruthie grew up, married and had four children.  Her life wasn’t always easy, poor health kept her from traveling and doing some of the things she wanted to do.  One thing that gave her peace was reading the Psalms and listening to gospel music.  One of her favorite songs was “How Great Thou Art,” sung by George Beverly Shea.

The tears fall as I remember her and how much she suffered in her final months.  I would not wish her back, but I do weep for her.  I know she is safe in the arms of Jesus.  I’m reminded of the verse, “I do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.  For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him,” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14. 

 Another verse that comforts me is, “All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be,” Psalm 139:16.  When my sister was born, God gave her a certain number of days and when her time was up, He took her home.  God has His timetable for each of us.  He knows the end from the beginning.  He gives us life and when it’s our time to go, He takes us Home.

Loved ones left behind face grief, it’s the price you pay for loving someone.  Grief is a celebration of a gift from God through tears.  We might feel like our life has come to a standstill, and everyone around us is continuing like nothing happened. We go forward, taking the memories of our loved one with us.  Jesus is our example, He recognized grief and wept at the tomb of Lazarus, even when He knew what He was about to do:  raise Lazarus from the dead!  Amazing!  We grieve with hope.  It can be a painful journey, but God is our refuge.  He told Martha, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.  He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”  And Martha replied, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

So, my dear sister, rest………….

“Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast

There by His love o’ershadowed, sweetly my soul shall rest,

Hark! ‘tis the voice of angels, borne in a song to me,

Over the fields of glory, over the jasper sea……safe in the arms of Jesus.”  By Fanny Crosby

 Good night my dear sister, I’ll see you in the morning…

Your sister, Jean