TITLE: THE HARDEST VALLEY TO CROSS(part 4) By Verna Mull 06/30/09 |
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We stopped at our daughter’s farm, knowing she would want the love and support of her husband. He was in the field, but we were able to call him on the C.B. radio. I just asked him to please come up to the yard. He dropped his implement from the tractor, and was soon there. When he got down the steps, I stepped out of the car and announced “Vernon was killed this morning” There is no easy way to pass on news such as this was) Dave fell back against the tractor tires as if I had hit him with a a sledge hammer. I told him we wanted him to go with us to tell Linda. He ran to the house, and about 5 minutes, was washed and dressed in clean clothes. We drove on to the Mason City Hospital, and asked for our daughter to come to the lobby. I think it was Pastor, who talked to her supervisor, and she was soon there. When we told her, she screamed, leaned on me, and sobbed and sobbed, with a few little screams interjected. All of a sudden, she said, “I’m sorry, Mom, he was your son, and I’m leaning on you!” (Actually, it was helpful to comfort her at that moment) Her husband, Dave took over, bless his heart. She said to him, “Dave, we need to call our pastor” Dave replied, “I have already done that!” (I have never been able to understand how he got that all done in the 5 minutes that he had taken to clean up)
Some things are foggy to me. I believe we made the funeral arrangements before going home that day. (I have no idea if we ate anything, or if we didn’t!) By the time we were home, many neighbors dropped by to see if there was anything they could do. Some brought food, and were very kind.
I still carry one regret. One neighbor (who had lost a son about a year prior) threw her arms around me, cried with me, and then said, “I know just how you feel, you are mad at God” I was shocked, and pushed her back, stating, “I could never be angry with God”. I really didn’t remember this conversation until years later. Then, as the Holy Spirit is so adept at doing, I felt much convicted for my reactions. I went to her home to apologize. I know that different people react in different ways, and it was like giving her a slap in the face for trying to be a comfort! (I have read books which state that many people may react that way at first.) She was very gracious, and said she didn’t even remember the situation, but I have asked God to forgive me for being so insensitive towards her at that time. Today, she has already passed away. I am so glad for the convicting of the Holy Spirit before it was too late!
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