Saturday, January 25, 2014

Laughing in Heaven

I have known her for 37 years.  I have loved her for just as long.  She has always been a part of me.  This is how I will always remember her:

Her favorite color was blue.
Her beautiful smile and kind eyes.
Letting me play her piano phone when I visited.
She scolded me for licking out all the cheese whiz and putting the celery back on the plate.
Listening to her play the piano.
Her laugh.
How she missed my grandma.
How she held her strength and dignity as a gift.
She never had a hurtful thing to say to anyone because she knew how deeply words could cut.
She was a music teacher.
The way she held my face in her hands and told me she loved me.

My Auntie Leah passed from this life to the next last night.  I knew it was coming.  She has been ill and dementia had robbed her of her memories.  But it still hurts.

I loved this woman.

Yet there is life to be celebrated.  For Leah, who loved her Jesus, this is not the end.

Last night, when she breathed her last breath, she opened her eyes to see the face of the One who had called her home...had called her by name.  She left the hands of her children and was wrapped in the arms of her Savior.  Leah was finally blessed to come to a full knowledge of what Love is.  I am sure she laughed when reunited with her sisters, parents and everyone whom she mourned for.  What a beautiful sound!  Laughter in heaven!

John was given a vision that is recorded in Revelation. "...death shall be no more...no mourning, no crying, no pain, for the former things have passed away." (21:4)

In the days and years that follow there will be an emptiness that accompanies the loss of this woman of grace and beauty.  That's part of this life. But we can rest secure in knowing that, "goodness and mercy followed her all the days of her life and she now dwells in the house of the Lord forever." (Ps. 23:6)

Good bye Auntie Leah.  Thank you for richly blessing me with your presence.