Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Help (02/20/06)
-
TITLE: When God Calls Someone Home | Previous Challenge Entry
By Tamara Rodrigues
02/21/06 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
It was a cold day in January when Tina called. After we got off the phone, I was lost in a sea of emotions. Had I not prayed enough for her treatments? Why was God taking her from her little boy and little girl? I was angry, sad, and defeated all at the same time. I had to do something. I had no control over this.
I got in my car and drove and drove. I began these gut wrenching wails to God. “Help Me God. I don’t know how to handle this. I can’t handle this. I need You. I can’t bear this burden one moment longer. Father, please carry it for me. Show me what I can do to lessen this load for Tina and her family. Father, please help me, help us.” Almost immediately, I felt a peace wash over me. Something I have never experienced before.
I have read in the Bible about the “peace that passes all understanding” but I never had experience with it. When I got home, I called Tina and shared my experience with her. She told me that she would be talking to God about all of it soon. She didn’t have peace. She had a mountain of “I won’t be there for this and that’s” to wade through.
My heart just broke for her. The doctors had given her three to six months to live at the latest. We talked for a while longer and prayed together.
I knew I had to make a trip south to be with her and her family. In March, I flew down and we spent a week together. Taking pictures and sharing memories to last for a lifetime. We spent time with her son Justin feeding ducks, jumping in puddles, and playing on the jungle gym in the park. We tried to make things just normal for him and for her.
We spent time alone with her daughter Amber. We talked about boys and girlie stuff. We went shopping and to a movie. We created more happy memories for Amber with her mom. Amber was old enough to know what was happening to her mom. The time just being a girl was so important for both of them.
Tina and I would spend the evenings planning her funeral service. Her immediate family couldn’t handle it. We talked about what and who would speak and what songs would be played. We talked about the kind of casket she wanted.
After all the details were ironed out, we sat and talked about God, about her favorite Psalms, and about the peace she now had over her life coming to an end. We laughed and cried in the diner the last night before I had to leave to head back to my own family. We both knew we would not see each other again this side of heaven. We hugged each and held it tightly in the parking lot. We reached up and wiped each others tears away.
Tina passed on June 21st of that year. I received the news at work and when I arrived home, I stood in my backyard and looked up into the deep blue sky. A single droplet of water landed on my cheek. I knew Tina was with God and she was okay.
We don’t always have our prayers answered the way we would like. God knows how He has woven everything together, we don’t. I do know that from my cry of help to God, came peace I had never felt, peace for a friend who was going home, and a lifetime of memories.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
