We had a wonderful day yesterday. Steve loves to be surrounded by the people that he loves, and if you know him you are probably included in that list. To each person who came to see him yesterday and asked, “How are you?” he gave the same quiet response, “I’m dying.”
Steve is grappling with the reality that he is dying. We all are. Every morning I go to Psalm 90 and I contemplate what it means to worship an eternal God when you are a transient human. “Before the mountains were born, before You gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, You are God” (Psalm 90:2) I reach for Steve and feel the warmth of his touch and my heart aches within me because I know that our lives are, “like yesterday that passes by, like a few hours of the night” (Psalm 90:4). I know that the day is fast approaching when I’ll reach for him and he’ll be gone.
“I’m dying.” Steve speaks these words as the truth of what it means to be a mortal man is being revealed to him. “You end their life; they sleep. They are like grass that grows in the morning it sprouts and grows; by evening it withers and dried up” (Psalm 90:5,6).
“We end our years like a sigh. Our years last seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow; indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away” (Psalm 90:7-10). Steve turned seventy this year. We sit close together holding hands and reminiscing about the years we’ve spent together. Each of us is amazed at how fast the time has gone.
Recently a health care provider confronted Steve with the reality that he was dying. Then she asked, “Are you afraid?” He was quiet for a few moments then replied, “No, that’s been taken care of.” This is Holy Week. This is the week we celebrate the faithful love of God who gave His only begotten Son so that anyone who believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life. In Jesus Christ death was swallowed up in victory. Yes, Steve is dying, but death will not be the end. That was taken care of when Jesus conquered the grave.
"No, that's been taken care of."
ReplyDeleteBest thing I've heard all day. Steve's quiet confidence is a testament to all those who will be interacting him in this period of his life.
Sarah you all are being held up in prayer for: we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28, NASB)
ReplyDeleteYou and Steve are fondly remembered for all you did for Caris and Jeffrey, providing your beautiful home for the wedding.
We love you all as sister and brother in Christ.
"that's been taken care of ..." What words of faith and acceptance...We are continuing to pray for you all during this time. We love you , admire you , pray for you , and grieve for and with you .
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