Isa's Eulogy - Part Three

For those of you just joining us, the past few and the next few DEVOs are dedicated to my beloved mother-in-law who passed away July 19th after a 17-day battle with cancer.  It was so sudden, and the family is still processing this unexpected loss.  Nevertheless, as Christians we are encouraged to always look for ways to be thankful in every situation.  I have been doing just that, and I realize that the reason God tells us to be grateful is because it has tremendous benefits for our souls.  Below is the continuation of her eulogy...

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During Isa's final hours we  -  her husband, daughters-in-law, kids, and grandkids  -  11 of us in total  -  crowded around her hospital bed in the ICU and prayed, shared stories, and sang; we all realized that being right next to her, holding her hands, kissing her forehead, rubbing her arms was a extraordinary  privilege and a gift that not everyone receives. Such a monumental reason to be grateful.

We also found ourselves being thankful for everything from rubber gloves, Purell,  and trashcans, to clean bed sheets, non-skid socks, and air conditioning.  Mostly, though, we were deeply moved by the caring, spitfire nurse, Virgie, who worked non-stop to make our mom comfortable.  We told her too, and she said, "They don't call me the energizer bunny for nothing!"  Peace descended on that room in palpable ways.

And then my daughter, Rachel,  confided in all of us that the day she has a little girl, she will name her "Elisabel" in honor of our Isa, her grandmother.  Did I mention that Rachel is pregnant right now? We don't know the gender yet, but regardless, the day a little girl comes along, she will carry that most beautiful name! Amen~

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1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God's will in Christ Jesus that you do this."

I can testify that the verse above is possible. Even in the midst of very difficult circumstances, when we pray through the pain, when we share funny stories in spite of our sorrow, when we give thanks not for the cancer but because God is still on His throne, cancer or not, when we do what God desires,  unexpected blessings of joy and peace come our way.

Whenever I start to think of that night we said good bye to Isa, my first thoughts are always to the gratitude we all shared, from the smallest detail (Amen! for nurse call buttons) to the greatest one (We will reunite with Isa someday).  Somehow, practicing our faith, praying, looking for ways to be thankful, creates a powerful buffer for our souls that  keeps the joy in and the depression out!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We all have reasons to be thankful.  Open our eyes to the many blessings in our lives and keep our focus on You - our Redeemer and Comforter. In Jesus' name, AMEN.