ms sadie lives in the 'hood...
deep in the hood...
the kind of place that looks better in the dark but you can only go there in the broad daylight [safely]...
her family is poor...really poor...like generationally impoverished...
their living quarters double as a family-run childcare center...
most of the time little kids are running all around...with energy...with joy...
ms sadie is old...really old...and her room is right there in the action of it all...
her ebony skin is weathered...stretched tight...
she only has a couple of teeth left...way in the back...
she is mostly skin and bones...emaciated...
she had a stroke a few years ago and has been declining ever since...
she babbles...but, it is nonsensical...
she smiles...it is beautiful, but mostly vacant...
she is bed-bound...she is at home but nobody is really "home"...
as of late, her slow decline has turned into a plunge...
she is speeding downward fast...
she is "actively dying" in hospice-speech...
the water is swirling in the drain...just about to disappear...
sadie's daughter is one of life's real angels...she is so faithful...
her care for her mom is impeccable...
"i wish i could do more for mama..."
"it ain't hard to care for her...what will i ever do without her???"
she is holding on...tightly...with a death grip...
but, ms sadie is struggling to die...
the end is near...
better call the hospice chaplain...
so, last week the daughter shows me in...takes me through the kids to sadie's room...
i just sat there...
read scripture...
prayed...
sang hymns [very quietly -- ha! ha!]...
i lingered...no hurry...
listening...
i heard God speak as clearly as i ever had...
"it is her time..."
"i am about to take her home..."
"my arms are open..."
"it is time to let her go..."
"i think you should talk to her daughter..."
really God???
why me???
"just do it guy..."
so. i did it...
a long heart to heart with a clinging daughter...
i waxed eloquent...
quoted henri: "the greatest gift a family can give their loved one at the end is to release them...let them go...bless them to go home to God..."
i wasn't sure i got through...
i gave it my best shot...
we prayed...
i left...
then, the daughter left and went to the florist...
she bought a bouquet of live flowers...
spring-time looking flowers...
living, colorful flowers...
easter flowers maybe???
a veiled expression of her hope of the coming resurrection???
she brought the living bouquet home...laid it on her mama's chest...wrapped her limp hands around it...
and had a talk with mama...
"i love you, and i want you here with me...forever..."
"but, the preacher says God is ready for you..."
"i thinks so too..."
"so, i bless you...go on home...i release you to Jesus..."
"goodbye..."
she walked out of the room...
within moments, i get a call...
"sadie is dead...the family is asking for you..."
the power of release...
the power of letting go...
the beauty of loving God with an open hand...NOT a clenched fist...
what do we need to let go???
have a good evening...
guy
isn't it amazing that God shares his sovereign decisions with us???
it is his call...he makes the final decision...he is in control...
but he gave sadie's daughter a chance to participate...to work through it...surrender...
she opened her hand...God welcomed sadie into his open arms...
what an awesome God!!!
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what a beautiful way for her daughter to let her go. glad you were there for them both
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