THE WRONG NUMBER

Not long ago, I answered the phone, with caller asking if a Sandra was there. I immediately recognized the voice on the other end. She and her husband were on the same educational tour I took of Europe, nearly 30 years ago. After the tour, we stayed in touch through handwritten letters, as there was no e-mail back then. In time, our lives got busy, losing touch with one another. I always wondered how she and her husband were doing; now she was on the other end of the phone!
I told her this was not Sandra’s number, a neighbor of hers in Texas, but Marie, a person from the tour so long ago. She is in her eighties now. It took awhile for her to recall who I was, but after a minute or so, all the memories of our three weeks together returned.
Neither one of us know how she called me, as it wasn’t close to the number she was dialing, much less being in the same state! It was a joy to visit, though bittersweet, as she told me of her husband’s passing three years ago. The love story she told me that day, of the two of them, brought tears to my eyes. She was with him until his last breath, speaking of their love for one another until he shut his eyes for the last time.
I promised her I would send her a photo of my family. She got a giggle in her voice, saying that only ten days before, she had pulled out my letters from the past and photos I had sent. She, too, was wondering how I was doing, as she read the letters from long ago. Now, here I was on the phone, by her dialing a wrong number! Both of us said God had to have a part in this.
She did not get to reach Sandra through her phone call that afternoon. Rather, we both received an unanticipated joy, flooding us with beautiful memories. Tears and laughter shared reminded us just how precious and dear life is.

AN ACCEPTANCE

No matter when death happens, we do not expect it. It may be sudden, or it may be a loved one, being ill over a period of time. Whenever it is, it is hard to accept. Someone we have loved, cared for, whom we have laughed with, talked with, and shared a hug, is no longer there. So often, the first question is to ask God why. Why did you do this, God? Why did you let this happen? Why did you let this person suffer? This is the hardest thing to grasp; the next hardest thing is realizing God didn't cause the suffering, the illness, nor the sudden death. He gave us choices to make, while others were done to human error, and still others due to the chemistry of the body, a mix-up of the make-up.. God would not impose suffering upon anyone; that was taken care of when he offered His Son so the rest of us, for all of the generations to come. God created all of us, but to decide on the genetics of everyone is not up to Him. He may have others suffer more than our brethren, but He may have felt these are the ones who can inspire all of us, to continue to give all we have in order to survive. These are the ones to whom He has a special connection. If this other person go through a hardship, then so can the next. Showing a positive, strong attitude is a definite attribute to survival. Even those who pass away during the suffering leave an impact for those left behind. His Son may have died, but once in awhile, He needs to send a reminder to us how we must live our lives. He doesn't pick anyone to go through an early death, He picks those special few to whom He feels can leave an impact upon many. As years go by, we still do not forget those who left life before their time. But, we must continue to remember it is because God chose them, to leave their mark, affecting a multitude of plenty. We recall, through them, never to take life for granted. Sometimes, it is easy to forget the role of God and the good life He gives us. By selecting a certain few, the message is once again delivered that all of us are gifts from God. Without those giving their lives, we can tend to forget the wonders of our mighty Lord. How glorious He will make the lives of those who suffered, so the rest of us may have a better life!

It is hard for those whom are left behind. It is out of order, to have someone young pass away, or a child before the parents. It does not matter if the child is now an adult; this person is still passing away before the individual's time. It is the time to ask God to give comfort to the family, to the friends and to welcome the loved one into Heaven. Ask that there will no longer be pain, nor suffering, nor a sadness among the deceased. It is very, very hard for those left behind. As the loved ones continue to try and go on with life, it is a time to remember that the one whom has passed away is now in a peace we cannot describe until we are there to join our endearing person. It may take years to begin to envelop this peace. Let all of us pray for those going through such a catastrophic process. We are to never judge those continuing in their sorrow. We are only to pray for their wellness, that they one day feel the peace their loved one feels, now living an eternal life with God.