What Do You Do When It Rains? (Part 1)

I'd considered just jumping ahead to tell the story of what some of my children did during a recent rainstorm but I felt rather strange skipping over  the significant story of the events surrounding my mother's funeral - or my mother's home going, as I prefer to say.  Because, after all, who likes to write about the death of a loved one? Then I realized that the rain was a common thread in the two stories.

 I cried. No, actually, I yelled when it became clear that it was soon time for her to go. But then God's peace rained down on me and the plan He made unfolded.

He already knew that my husband would be supportive of my family's decision for me to come back to the States to say good-bye. He already knew that my sister in law would be the best any one could ever hope for, caring for my mother (and father) though surgeries and recoveries, infections and healing and so much more, even to the very end. You see, He already knew that His church would buy the plane ticket and that my two eldest sons would be able to join me in GA. And He already knew what a sweet time of reunion I would share with them, my father, and many others. And, yes, He already knew that rain would POUR  down on Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga the day we buried her body. And He knew how the sun would shine again as we recount the wonderful memories and legacy that she gave us.

Did I mention it is hard to write about the death of a loved one? I guess He knew that already too, which is why He reminds us in His Word, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints" (Psalm 116:15).