{ Legacy }

Today has been emotional for us. We've had tearful phone calls and cried in Lowes and cried as we held each other and prayed. Lots of tears and prayers for our dear Grannie Annie who is desperate with longing to go home to be with Jesus and her Rogie. We just heard that she was singing " I come to the garden" in the ER tonight. And she told David's sister Deb when she left her side on Sunday, " Okay honey, goodbye. I'll see you in heaven. " It's so hard to know that she is suffering as she begs to go to heaven. My Annabelle is named after her and I pray often and fervently that Jesus will infuse her with the sort of heart for others, for her family,  for Him, for beauty + joy, that our Grannie has. And with her quiet wisdom, her creative eye, her ability to love unconditionally, and listen well to the hearts of her loved ones, for her funny bone, for the sweet gift of encouragement, for her glass half-full perspective on life. I know of no one who is more admired or adored than our precious Granniebelle's. That's what makes this possible goodbye so hard and especially tender...I count knowing and being loved by her as one of the greatest treasures of my whole life. And we can't and won't stop praying for her, crying for her until we know that she is resting in the arms of her precious Lord. Or for a long time after.

  It will be worth it all, just for one glimpse of His dear face. Precious Grannie, soon you will get to hear that resounding sweet " well done"...for faithfully giving God the glory in the good times and the bad throughout more than ninety years of life and for your truly beautiful legacy. And when you finally get to go to heaven, please kiss Jesus, Grandpa Roger, Papa and our angel babies for us. We will miss you every day and speak of you with laughter and the greatest fondness, as we do our best to follow in your darling footsteps.  

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God's eternal day.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We're tossed and driven on , no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray'r.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,
We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ

  And while we are talking about legacy, this sermon spoke to + stuck with me like few others have in the past year. I think a big part of that has to do with the fact that David's brother Mark spontaneously jumped up from his seat to be baptized at the end of the service. We were so thankful and excited to be there to witness his public confession of faith.

 

If your married, I highly encourage you to take the time watch this sermon. If you are not married but hope to be one day, I highly encourage you to take the time to watch it as well. I walked away from it convicted, challenged and changed by Jesus.

Grannie Annie Update: The latest report is that Grannie has a much rosier outlook on life this morning. That is a huge answer to prayer as we dearly want however much time she has left on earth to be spent as comfortably and sweetly as possible.