On June 27th at 5:00 am we were awakened by my sister, Glenda Sue, knocking on our bedroom window. Immediately we knew something was very wrong. Upon opening the door, she told me that my sister Linda was in ER at the Marshall South Hospital in Boaz, Alabama. Her condition was serious.
My heart felt as if it would explode. Fear gripped my body, because for the last several months we had watched as Linda was depleted in weight and energy. We had related it to a blood disorder that she had been diagnosed with several years earlier. It was treatable, but not curable. The blood disorder had caused a mild stroke 4 years ago from which she had recovered well. In my heart, I assumed that was what had happened again. To our great surprise, that was not the problem.
When we arrived at the hospital, we found her on oxygen. She was struggling to breathe. As the morning progressed we learned that her left lung had completely collapsed. She was working with one lung and was very low oxygen. A lung specialist was called in; a biopsy was taken the following day. The prognosis revealed a huge mass that had covered both lungs.
As our greatest fear came true, I watched intently to see her face. What I saw still amazes me. I saw my precious sister, my sister in Christ, completely surrender all to the fact that “the time of her departure was at hand.” As her doctor, who had treated her disorder at the cancer center for years, hung his head and could barely speak to tell her that it would not be months, it would not be weeks, but it would be only days left to live.
There’s an old song that we’ve sang all my life that says “there is grace for every need, grace for you, grace for me, grace for all who believe, grace to cover all our sin, yes there is grace in the Lord’s perfect love.” One of my favorite scripture says “Perfect love cast out all fear” I witnessed dying grace unfold before my very eyes as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob (who also was the God of Linda) -who had promised that he would never leave her or forsake her – carry her by his sweet Holy Spirit as she made preparation for her heavenly home.
She called for the family to come in and told them she loved them. She shared her desires for us to carry through after her departure. She witnessed to us the fact that she was saved by the grace of God and that if you were not saved, please prepare your heart so she could see you in heaven. Departure was coming quickly so she did not waste a moment. Tracy, her daughter, called friends that she had not seen in a long time to say good byes. Laughter filled the room as dear friends shared stories of old. As I looked on those scenes each day that week I asked myself how would I respond if I learned I only had days to live. What I saw was such strength and courage; it could have only come from the Lord.
Linda had been hearing the master’s call for some time. She had been telling me that she wanted me to go with her and “get her things in order.” On the Monday morning before she took sick, she called and we made plans for me to go with her on Wednesday to take care of final details. Unfortunately, she could not make that appointment. I love the story in John 11:28-29 that states “She went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly saying, the master is come and calleth for thee and as soon as she heard she arose quickly and came unto him.” I think she knew something great was in store for her when she learned the master was calling for her. Linda knew in her heart what she had trusted in was now coming to pass. Ephesians 1:18 says that “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his heritance in the saints.”
Watching your loved one pass is never an easy thing to do, but in my heart I remember the scripture with this promise. “But I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” (John 16:22) What would we do without the promises of God? I could not face a lot of days if I did not have God’s Word to give me hope and light. I cling to the fact that one day “God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes, there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4
I sorrow not as those that grieve without hope, because I will be united one day with my sister Linda, my mother, my daddy, and many other loved ones that have gone on before. But the greatest of all these does not come to compare to seeing Jesus, the one that died for me, the one that made it possible for us all to live eternally.
I am thankful for the opportunity to share my testimony about my precious sister’s final days and how the Lord carried her (and us) as she journeyed to her heavenly home. She was so good to me, still called me her little sister, stuck by me through thick and thin. She had a tender heart toward anyone in need, but she was also such a character! Anyone that knew her knew why daddy called her Rooster!
This experience makes me look at every day realizing that things could change in a heartbeat. We never know the time when the master’s call comes for us, but we can be confident that his grace is sufficient for our need.
May the Lord bless you with peace that passeth all understanding and let us look to the author and finisher of our faith Jesus Christ our Lord………….
In loving memory of Linda Bolding Webster
July 11 1948- July 3 2017
Until we meet again,
Diane Mann
Lean into Jesus Ministries
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