Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Day 1 - Week 44 - Brokenhearted

I know I should be introducing a new verse today, but for right now I just have to share my sadness.  We received a phone call just thirty minutes ago from my sweet sister-in-law letting us know that her husband had just passed away.  My dear brother-in-law, James Robert McCaffree, (but known to most everyone as "Shorty") had fought lymphoma and the side effects of chemo and radiation for over ten years, but I just did not expect to get that call this morning.  He has been in and out of the hospital so many times, so many ambulance trips due to so many different things, that I guess I should have realized that one of those trips would be his last, but your mind just won't let you grab onto that thought until you are forced to.  This morning I believe God kindly took Shorty very quickly, without giving him a chance to be fearful or going through another grueling hospital stay.  God, unlike me, knew that today was the exact right time for Shorty to come home to Him, to the place He has prepared for this wonderful, funny man that we all love so much.

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.

The Bible tells us that God is near to the brokenhearted, so I know He is near to Mary, her daughters and grandchildren, and to us as we go through this time of sadness.  And I know that He will walk beside all of us as we transition into lives here on earth without the laughter and smiles that Shorty brought to it.  And I know that ultimately He will call each of us out of this world, just as He has Shorty, and bring us home to be with Him forever, where we will be reunited with all of those who have gone before. 

Thank You Lord for Your divine and inexplicable comfort and peace, even when we are so broken.  You are near.

1 comment:

donna said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. A sad day for you and all of Short's family and friends. My prayers are you will receive comfort.