Surprises, Part 2

As I mentioned previously, my sister's funeral was yesterday. One of the things that surprised me, but maybe shouldn't have, was how many people showed up to support us. People that didn't know my sister but just wanted to let us know they care that we are hurting. Greg and Deanna Dawson, Pastor Chuck Richard, Pastor Wayne Moore, Shanna's friend Tabitha, Bill and Evelyn Brown, and Rita Woodard, who is not just a good friend, but also Shanna's boss. She came not just on her own behalf, but representing the school. She said that lots of others wanted to come, but understandably, they had to be at the school. Today we received flowers from The Joy FM , the radio network that I have done some volunteering for. I was really surprised by that. Then again, those are some awesome people down there.


Knowing that there are people in our lives that are willing to be the hands and feet of Christ and prop us up is very humbling, and I hope I have learned from them.

I can tell there are some rough days ahead, not just for myself of course but the whole family. I have to try to do for my brother in-law what others have done for us- be there for support and encouragement. Knowing that Andrea was saved relieves some of the pain, but she is missed already.

When Andrea first went into the hospital on the day after Thanksgiving, her lungs ans heart had already stopped. In the first couple of weeks we didn't know if she would live. Eventually of course, she came around, began the slow process of recovery, and eventually was able to walk out of the hospital. That's probably made her passing harder to take- we thought things were getting better. But really, we can't complain. Not just because God is in control and we don't deserve any of the blessings he gives us, but also because every day we had with her after Thanksgiving was "bonus time".

Most of us have said when someone dies, "I wish I could tell them..." or "if only we could have.... one more time". Well, we got that. Both in the hospital, and over the almost 30 days she was out of the hospital, we got to take care of those "ifs" and "I wish"'es. As a family, we got to spend time together, go out together, celebrate together, express our feelings, say our "I love you"'s. Was it enough? No way. She was out of the hospital for less than 30 days. But if she had been out for 20 years, I would want 20 years and one day. The point is, there's never enough time. I can choose to be bitter about losing her, or I can choose to be grateful for the time we had- especially the "bonus time". So, while it's not easy, and while I am sad for having lost my sister, as best as I can, and by the strength and grace God gives, I choose to be thankful.