Grandma

My Grandma passed away this morning.  She was diagnosed with leukemia a little over three months ago.  She was in the hospital for 2 months receiving various treatments and had been home off and on for about a month.  We thought the leukemia was in remission, but Saturday night she had to go back to the hospital and they put her in the ICU.  Once the doctors looked at all of her blood work they decided the leukemia had returned and there was no chance of curing her.  Once that diagnosis was given, Grandpa, my Mom, and her three brothers made the difficult decision to make Grandma as comfortable as possible knowing that she didn't have long to live. 

I've been hurting since I found out they were putting her in the ICU.  Even throughout her long hospital stay she was fairly healthy, other than having cancer.  A week ago she was up and walking and seemed to be doing fine.  When I heard they put her in the ICU I knew things must have taken a serious turn for the worse. 

I hurt for my Grandpa.  I can't imagine watching your spouse of 58 years be in immense pain and having to make the decision to ease her pain, even knowing that would eventually end her life. Now he is facing the rest of his life without his mate.  How do you do that?

I hurt for my Mom.  She wasn't able to make it to be with Grandma before she passed.  Even though she was with her just a few weeks ago, being several states away and not able to see Grandma one last time was difficult for her. Now she has to live the rest of her life without talking to her Mom anymore.  I can't fathom not being able to talk to my Mom.

I hurt for me.  I lived down the street from Grandma until I was 13 years old.  I have the best memories of being down at Grandma and Grandpa's house and all the fun things we got to do when we were kids.  I have warm memories of the visits I got to have with Grandma when I got older and how nice it was to be an adult with her.  The knowledge that I'll never see her on earth again, never get another hug, never see her smile makes me cry.

But through the pain I have amazing peace.  My Grandma was a Christian all of her life.  She lived her life in such a way that I know she will receive an eternal inheritance with Christ.  And even better is the knowledge that God has provided a way for me to see her again by living my life as He has commanded.  So while our time together on earth was not as long as I would have wanted, I rest in the fact that we get to spend eternity together!