Today I've been thinking about death.  Alot.  Seems to be a normal thing to do when one near you dies. Someone said that it is not death but dying which is terrible.  Do you think that's right?  I think death is pretty terrible for those left behind.  Death is separation and separation is not pleasant. 

I got a call this morning from my new dear friend Agnes.  We've only known each other a handful of months but we're pretty close.  Today, she called me early to tell me her husband died. 

I'm not real surprised but so sad for her loss.  He took ill about a month ago, was admitted to a nursing home to help care for him and went downhill fast.  He was in his 70's and very frail at the last of it. 

I called her about a week ago with a thought that suddenly popped into my head.  Her husband was discouraged and it seemed as though he lost his will to live. My husband and I had gone to visit him the Sunday before. He spent his days in front of the TV.  How depressing.  So I called and asked if she would like to borrow my CD's which were full of hope, life and encouragment.  They had borrowed them on occasion from me previously and enjoyed the music.  She said she had nothing to play them on in the nursing home.  So I offered her my boom box which she gratefully accepted along with a half dozen of my CD's. 

She played this music for him and he did enjoy singing these uplifting praise songs.  I'm sure now that God planted this thought in my heart and mind.  I'm just glad I acted on it.  I'm usually not that fast at moving like this.  I believe the Holy Spirit prompted me to call her that day and I'm glad I did.   Nobody knew it would be like this. 

He was getting so weak that she had been feeding him because he kept dropping his utensils.  Yesterday at lunch as she fed him, he looked at her and gave her a warning.  He told her to be prepared because he felt his body weakening.  He just wanted her to know.  I believe that was a gift from God to prepare her. 

She went home last night like usual after making sure he was down for the night.  He died while she was making her way home just a few hours after he gave her this warning.  She got the call when she returned home that they couldn't find a pulse.  He died just like that. 

So when she called me this morning I could hear her sniffles but she was ok.  She knew he was not hurting anymore and that he was in the arms of Jesus she said.  He had a love for God and was looking forward to going home to heaven.  I prayed with her, offered to go with her to the funeral home but her sister-in-law was going with her.  I imagine the funeral will be on Saturday.  This is the second husband to die unexpectedly in our church in about two months or so. 

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."   2 Tim 4:7