This will be long, but I have to share my Mother in Law, Mary Covington's witness, the night of her transition from this world to her Heavenly Home. After a week of restless nights, tubes and ivs, masks, etc, and being told nothing more could be done for her lungs, everything was taken off, but oxygen. Twila and I watched her sleep, finally a restful sleep and she talked in her sleep. We got closer to hear what she was mumbling, and her first words we understood were " job application". Odd words to hear. Then came the prayers; she went through each member of Charles' family and Lloyd's family ending with "In Jesus Name". Then we heard her say, "I see Jesus". Twila and I looked at each other to be sure, and she said I see Jesus. I threw my hands in the air and said, "Twila, she sees Jesus!" I got in front of her and she was singing,
I see Jesus, standing at the Father's right hand,
I see Jesus, yonder in the Promised Land,
Work is over, now I'm coming to Thee,
I see Jesus, standing waiting for me."
She began praying again for Charles and Lloyd's families, starting with Precious Lord, watch over their families and keep them in Your care, In Jesus Name, Amen. Her next words reminded me of that cloud of saints that is mentioned in Hebrews. She said something to her Mama, named her Uncle Jere, Ovella (who was one of my favorites in the church, when I married into it), and Dallas. Yes, she named these saints that died many years ago, and even my Dad, who died Nov. 30! She also said, "There's angels, In Jesus Name, Amen." She kind of chuckled in her sleep, and said, "That's pretty", and said, "by the river, I didn't see you standing over there". This makes me want to weep and shout at the same time! She named her brother, Roscoe, too.
I felt like Twila and I had a glimpse of a Heavenly experience as our precious Mother in law's spirit was meeting her Lord. I don't know the whys of this experience, but I'm glad Twila was there to witness what I heard, because someone could be skeptical that we had gone without sleep, etc. But it was real, and Heaven is real, and I believe she saw Jesus, and that cloud of saints. Grandma, as we often called her, lived a life deserving of this reward. She loved her family, and her grandchildren were her pride and joy. She prayed fervent prayers daily for us, gave so much of her life serving the Lord with gladness. She was tiny, but her heart was as big as they come and she shared her harvest of food with anyone that came into her home. Numerous times, Eli brought friends to her table on Sundays and she always made them feel welcome. Aunt Lucile was usually there with us, and Grandma expected all of us to be there. If Kirk or Wendy came home, it was a celebration and grand occasion for us to break bread together. She was thrilled to have Hannah's favorite "green truck" from her early garden which consisted of new lettuce, onions, boiled eggs and a sauce. She always had sour dough bread that everyone, near and far, loved. Dill pickles were canned in the summer for us to enjoy the rest of the year. I could go on and on, because she did. Grandma was just that, GRAND. She lived a life that testified her love for God, and her faithfulness to Him, and today she is with Him. I told Lloyd I wish there was someway to let people know what I experienced in her presence, because it bears witness to her life as a Christian. This is it. It's long, but I can't let this go without sharing it. I walked onto the porch this beautiful morning and missed Daddy sitting out there as he liked to do, and I looked across the field to Grandma's and I felt such a void, I wept. But oh, how I praise God for what both of them have now. As Grandma would say, In Jesus Name, AMEN!
I see Jesus, standing at the Father's right hand,
I see Jesus, yonder in the Promised Land,
Work is over, now I'm coming to Thee,
I see Jesus, standing waiting for me."
She began praying again for Charles and Lloyd's families, starting with Precious Lord, watch over their families and keep them in Your care, In Jesus Name, Amen. Her next words reminded me of that cloud of saints that is mentioned in Hebrews. She said something to her Mama, named her Uncle Jere, Ovella (who was one of my favorites in the church, when I married into it), and Dallas. Yes, she named these saints that died many years ago, and even my Dad, who died Nov. 30! She also said, "There's angels, In Jesus Name, Amen." She kind of chuckled in her sleep, and said, "That's pretty", and said, "by the river, I didn't see you standing over there". This makes me want to weep and shout at the same time! She named her brother, Roscoe, too.
I felt like Twila and I had a glimpse of a Heavenly experience as our precious Mother in law's spirit was meeting her Lord. I don't know the whys of this experience, but I'm glad Twila was there to witness what I heard, because someone could be skeptical that we had gone without sleep, etc. But it was real, and Heaven is real, and I believe she saw Jesus, and that cloud of saints. Grandma, as we often called her, lived a life deserving of this reward. She loved her family, and her grandchildren were her pride and joy. She prayed fervent prayers daily for us, gave so much of her life serving the Lord with gladness. She was tiny, but her heart was as big as they come and she shared her harvest of food with anyone that came into her home. Numerous times, Eli brought friends to her table on Sundays and she always made them feel welcome. Aunt Lucile was usually there with us, and Grandma expected all of us to be there. If Kirk or Wendy came home, it was a celebration and grand occasion for us to break bread together. She was thrilled to have Hannah's favorite "green truck" from her early garden which consisted of new lettuce, onions, boiled eggs and a sauce. She always had sour dough bread that everyone, near and far, loved. Dill pickles were canned in the summer for us to enjoy the rest of the year. I could go on and on, because she did. Grandma was just that, GRAND. She lived a life that testified her love for God, and her faithfulness to Him, and today she is with Him. I told Lloyd I wish there was someway to let people know what I experienced in her presence, because it bears witness to her life as a Christian. This is it. It's long, but I can't let this go without sharing it. I walked onto the porch this beautiful morning and missed Daddy sitting out there as he liked to do, and I looked across the field to Grandma's and I felt such a void, I wept. But oh, how I praise God for what both of them have now. As Grandma would say, In Jesus Name, AMEN!