Joyous Sadness

My mother lost her mom at a very young age, (she was eight and her sister Betty was ten). Their father was a long distance truck driver and was necessarily gone a lot. After her mom died she was raised by a string of relatives in difficult, impoverished circumstance during the “Dust Bowl” era in south Texas. Perhaps more than anything else these tough times forged a close knit relationship between Mom and Betty and they remained as close as two sisters could from early childhood throughout adulthood.

Thirty years ago Betty and her husband decided to retire and move to Columbus MS, (where my mom lived), in order that they might spend the rest of their days together. Unfortunately before they even got moved into their new home, tragedy struck and Betty’s husband Jake was instantly killed in a car wreck as he drove out to Colorado to close down their summer cabin.

Betty was devastated, but my mom was there to console her. Then tragedy struck with a vengeance again when just six months later, my mom at the young age of 52, suddenly collapsed and died unexpectedly. Overwhelmed by grief in the following years, Betty and my dad through the incredible mercy and grace of God were able to find comfort and companionship in each other and eventually marry. My “Aunt” Betty officially became my mother, but even today, thirty years later, I still affectionately refer to her as “Aunt Betty”.

She is 87 and yesterday the doctors told my dad that they have done all they can for her. She needs a new heart and a set of lungs, and at her age she couldn’t survive that kind of operation. If and when she becomes strong enough to get out of the hospital, she will need to enter into hospice.

Betty and dad are both wonderfully saved and each of them has taught Sunday school for fifty years or more. It is joyous news that Betty will soon be called home to be with the Lord and will be reunited with my mom, Jake, her dad and others that have gone on before her. It is sad news that the rest of us will miss her terribly, especially my dad, who is 90 and has Parkinson’s disease. He of course is just devastated and will now be faced with an incredible loneliness that only God can deal with until He mercifully calls him on home to glory and a family reunion of epic proportions.

Thus today I’m faced with joyous sadness. I’m happy for Betty that she will soon enter paradise, but I will miss her terribly and my heart is just broken when I think about my poor old dad and the painful days ahead of him. Please join me in praying for them. I’m asking that they will somehow be comforted and strengthened by our King and Savior Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 57:2
Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.