FROM HERE TO THERE
I watch her… She doesn’t know it, but sometimes I stop and try to follow her moves until she disappears in the crowd. Sometimes when I drop her off at school, I pull out onto the main road and slow to watch as she makes her way through the breezeway entrance to her school.
Our youngest has a distinct gait, it’s a relaxed pace because she’s early, due to me dropping her off. I can pick her out of a crowd, at least until it gets too crowded and distant, she disappears… like a leaf on a stream… It’s troubling to watch… I’ve done it with the older girls when they were young and it always sat uneasy with me. Still does.
I know today isn’t likely to be the last day I see her walk away, but that day is just around the corner and I’m not looking forward to it. Change is inevitable in this life, the deepening wrinkles in my face remind me of that fact. I won’t be able to protect my daughters forever, but I watch out for them. I’ve watched our older daughters walk, run and drive away, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
I recall as a kid floating things down a river, stream, or even gutter, watching them disappear. I also remember a few balloons, the ones we didn’t suck the helium out of to talk like cartoon characters, I let go and watched them disappear into the heavens.
At some point on this physical earth we too will disappear like a leaf on a river. Even as a kid, letting something go and watching it disappear, never to be seen again, didn’t sit well with my mind, maybe even my soul. The river of life carries us along… How many people and places we’ve seen, known, and shared our lives with have already passed? I suspect more than we’re comfortable with admitting.
I don’t know for sure, but I think when the river of our life has run it’s course, it leaves us on the opposite bank from eternity. I’ve seen first hand loved ones about to cross that piece of water, from physical to spiritual, ask loved ones already finished with their river of life, how to get across it… Then they disappear… Just like the things treasured, let go by the innocent hands of youth…
As an adult I’d never let go of my beloved to let them disappear across the water of life… but it’s not our choice. God knows the number of our days, nothing disappears from the omnipotent eyes of our Father. For those of us that know Him, know we’re not perfect, our acknowledgment to Him and the sacrifice of His Son is the vessel that grants us safe passage from here to there.
We also know that the loved ones who know Him won’t disappear forever, just for now, just for a season. The river of life will be a bit rough, but at the end of the journey there is perfect peace and rest.
In the meantime… All we can do is follow the Light as the river carries us from physical sight…
If I miss you floating down your river of life, I’ll meet you on the other side…
As we all make our way, from here to there…
Pat Bowling
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 9:27 am
You know I love the imagery of this post!
This journey has been like riding the rapids for me. I am sooo ready; my arms are sooo tired from fighting the raging waters; I am looking forward to finding the bank of “perfect peace and rest”.
See you on the other side, my friend – What a day that will be!!
Floyd
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 11:36 am
Thanks Pat. “When we all get together, what a day of rejoicing that will be”! The journey is exhausting for sure, but you aren’t done yet! Who knows? I might run my boat into yours on this side!
April
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 12:04 pm
I’m with you! I’m tired too and so ready to see my Savior face to face!
Floyd
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 1:12 pm
I’m tired as well… It feels like someone has used their ore to pull me back from the back of my canoe of life… Wait! Is that your ore pulling me back?!!! Might as well have fun while we’re here!
TC Avey
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 3:17 pm
Beautiful. This life has much beauty but plenty of sorrow as well. I’ll be ready to go home when my Savior calls.
Floyd
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 6:53 pm
Amen TC. It’s all good, but it gets better. Well said.
Hazel Moon
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 6:53 pm
A husky voice on the other end of the line identified himself as Kurt, the owner of the Care Home where my mother resides in body. He continued, “Hazel, you need to come and visit your mother because she is ready to cross over that river.” “Yes, I will be there shortly,” I told him.
My husband offered to go with me, but I told him that I needed to go by Zelma’s and see if she wanted to say Good Bye to Mother. Robert backed off, because – just because (another story) We arrived and the owner hugged me and said they were giving her something every 4 hours to make her comfortable and that probably during the night she might slip home to be with Jesus.
We found Mother facing the wall, eyes closed and mouth open. As we spoke to her, she closed her mouth and moved her jaw but no other movements. I took her hand and told her who we were, and that I loved her. They I said the 23rd Psalm and sang a hymn. I asked Zelma to take her hand and tell Mother that she loved her and anything else she wanted to say. It was evident that Mother was comfortable, and I know in her spirit she was hearing us. We decided not to tire her and after half an hour we left.
As we left Kurt asked if I had a CD with Christian music, I told him I would look. As I drove Zelma home I knew I did not have anything that would be appropriate for Mom, so I stopped at Wal-Mart and purchased 2 CD’s with some of the old hymns.
Then I returned to the home and gave the CD’s to the owner so they could be used now, not knowing how long Mother will stay with us.
I am not in shock, because this passing on process has been heading in this direction for several weeks now. She has not been eating much, loosing weight and is very weak, along with some bad skin tears not healing.
Since I am the oldest I have been responsible for decisions that were not always easy. Anyway, your post is right on target for me today, and I appreciate it very much.
Floyd
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 6:59 pm
I’m sorry for your difficult times Hazel. I’ve been there and I know it’s not easy, but our Father is in control and we both know how blessed we are. I’m praying for you guys. God bless.
Hazel Moon
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 1:24 am
Thank you my friend, you are much appreciated! I decided to do a post using the above comments after editing, but I am not putting it on Face Book like I usually do.
Floyd
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 8:15 am
Feelings mutual for sure. I think that will be a great post, it has the sounds of a very special one. I’ll be looking forward to it.
Audra Krell
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 7:14 pm
Some glad morning when this life is o’er…….The other side used to not sit well with me either. The older I get though, the more I realize that the pain of this life will be no more and I’ve started to long for that day more and more. Much I would like to do on this earth, but when He says it’s time, I hope those I leave behind will remember that we’ll all be together for a day of rejoicing in Heaven.
Floyd
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 7:24 pm
I’m with you Audra, I’m better than I used to be. Some of us catch on a little slower I guess… What a day of rejoicing that will be…
Jo
Monday, March 26, 2012 @ 7:14 am
Love this! It is so true. Made me cry! AGAIN!!! Sorry it has been awhile. Hope all is well with the family. Tell them the Graeff’s send their love.
Floyd
Monday, March 26, 2012 @ 8:16 am
Thanks Jo. I appreciate anytime you can stop by. We’re all well, hope all is well with you guys. Tell Stan I said Hey!