I really don't think I've ever known what that verse fully meant. "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain." Most of you know my uncle Jim has not been well for quite some time now. Mom went with me to the middle school booth Monday and then left for Little Rock. Jim was supposed to have a procedure but his levels were not cooperating. His leg was getting bad, with sores that wouldn't heal. He has atherosclerosis, COPD, CHF, and a lot of other things. So the procedure was risky anyway. The doctors just sat down and told him a) the procedure was risky, and now that his levels were out of whack, it would be really risky, or b) no procedure and it will go downhill fast. He just said, "I'm done talking" and did not say much after that. Basically, he was done. He's tired of fighting and doing procedures that don't work. They moved him to a hospice home in Russellville yesterday afternoon about 5. Mom calls me about 7:30 and she is going through his stuff at the nursing home and is really upset. I told her I'd drive her to Russellville to see him. When we got there, he was really bad. Minimal eye contact, glazed over eyes, difficulty controlling movements, wouldn't swallow. It was way worse than I expected. Mom decided to stay, so I got Kyle to come get me. It was late when I got home last night.
Audrey said she and Allie would go in the morning and stay with mom. I was going to go to work for a few hours and then come around lunch. I got there at around 12, and both of Jim's daughters were there. He was in much worse shape but his breathing was not labored. His breaths were about a minute apart. We would think...this is it, and then he'd breathe again. I never once thought I'd watch someone take their last breath. It didn't seem to hurt, or he didn't seem to be in any pain. He was literally breathing one minute, and not the next.
After talking with everyone, Angie told me he told Randy (his brother) he was ready to go to heaven. And that verse had a whole new meaning. He was dying....but it was his gain.
Watching a loved one slip away is not an easy thing to do, but you understand so much more of God's word when you experience this very touching & special moment. And for each of us it shows us that we are literally just one breath away from heaven or hell. I am so thankful that your uncle shared that he was going to heaven :) Our God be praised for that.
ReplyDeleteGive your mom a hug for me!