Last night was difficult, but joyful at the same time. My sister in law, Jan passed away shortly before midnight. She was able to have some quality time with her family these last two weeks and say her good byes. She died with many family members around her and her husband and two sons holding her hands.
Of course, tears have been shed but there is such joy in knowing that she is pain free and reunited with her daughter and others that have passed. There are so many verses that apply in this situation, but I have been dwelling on these two:
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"We do not grieve as those who have no hope." I Thessalonians 4:13
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"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness. which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me on that day" 2 Timothy 4:7-8
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We are able to grieve with hope, because Jan did believe and she held strong to that belief even through the different trials in her life. She lost much of her vision as a young adult, she lost a child and then developed the cancer that she knew would take her life at a young age. However, she kept the faith and was comforted by it.
Thanks again for your prayers and please keep praying for the family.
Thanks again for your prayers and please keep praying for the family.
i am confident you are all engulfed in HIS comfort and peace today. sorry for this news.
ReplyDeleteMari, your family will be in my prayers. May you all be comforted by the knowledge that you will be reunited with your sister in law for an eternity.
ReplyDeletePerri
Sorry for your loss, Happy you will see her in your future:) Yes I will pray for her family. I will pray for you and yours also.
ReplyDeleteShe was a wonderful person and she will be missed.
ReplyDeletePraying for the whole family.
Mari, what a sweet and wonderful tribute to your SIL. She is now completely whole once again and sitting at the feet of her Savior. What a picture that is!
ReplyDeleteKnow that you and your family are in my prayers. I'm thankful that we serve a God who is quick to hear and always holding us in His grip.
Jan, was welcomed home.I know that in my heart. My condolences to you and the family. My God grant you the confort you need and hold you in his hands wgile you greve for Jan.
ReplyDeleteWhen I got up last night in the middle of the night your family came to mind and I said a prayer for you. I don't believe that was by accident. Praise God that she was a believer and that your family is comforted knowing her future, and that you will see her again. Will continue to pray for your family still.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Kayren
I am praying for you and your family. What a blessed woman she was to be part of your family.
ReplyDeleteThere is great rejoicing in heaven at the arrival of you sister in law! Your verses are perfect and we know that our sorrow is only for a time, but joy does come in the morning. My prayers go out for you and your family who loved her so much.
ReplyDeletePrecious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
ReplyDeleteI heard someone quote this verse this week! The Lord must love it when one of us arrives.
Our prayers are with all of you during your time of grieving.
I'm so glad the family was there with her when she passed. We were with Dick's mom when she died at age 53, and it was one of the most precious moments I have ever experienced.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss but glad you know you will see her again.
ReplyDeleteMari, Its a difficult thing to understand when someone so young is taken but Jan did serve the Lord in so many ways and her life touched many who didn't even know her through you. I'm so happy she is now healed completely and will pray for her entire family. Thank you for sharing her with us all.
ReplyDeleteOh Mari I am so sorry! But also rejoicing that she is in the presence of her Savior! That second verse is precious to me because that is the verse we put in Darlene's Obit. When I think of her I think of that verse! Praying for you all!
ReplyDeleteOur sympathies go to you and your whole family, Mari. It's so hard to see those we love leave us but when my Mom died, the pastor said "She only got a head start on us". That's always stuck with me... "just a head start"...
ReplyDeleteOh Mari, what a sweet post even though it is also a sad one. I love those bible verses. It's such a comfort to know we will one day see our loved ones again. I'll be praying for your family.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Kat
Mari,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss. You have spoken such beautiful things about her and the love you have for their family. She will definitely be one that I ask you to introduce me to in Heaven.
Praying for all of you.
Mari,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss. You have spoken such beautiful things about her and the love you have for their family. She will definitely be one that I ask you to introduce me to in Heaven.
Praying for all of you.
Oh my goodness I'm so sorry. My thoughts are with you and your family at this time.
ReplyDeleteDear Mari,
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry for your loss and I will pray for your family.
Lara
I'm so sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for you all. We are praying!
ReplyDelete(((HUGS))) It's never easy to lose a loved one, but it does make it easier when you know where they are going. Try to find peace in that.
ReplyDeleteMari,
ReplyDeleteFinally able to check blogs so just saw this about Jan. Our prayers are with all of you during this time.
Mari, I am sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you all.
ReplyDeleteOh Mari, I'm so sad to hear that Jan passed away. We've all been praying so hard for her. I pray that the Lord brings her husband and children peace and comfort as well as the rest of the family.
ReplyDeleteMari,
ReplyDeleteMy sincere condolences in the passing of your dear sister-in-law, Jan. May she rest comfortably in Jesus' arms.
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and leave a birthday greeting. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.
Blessings to you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Mary
Hey, Mari -
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your SIL. They become like sisters, don't they? I'm so glad that she was able to die well, which is something that I hope for, myself. You're right, there is much comfort to be found for those of us who believe. It makes you wonder how others make it?
Oh, Dear Mari,
ReplyDeleteYour whole family is in my prayers! May the LORD embrace you all!
Let me know if that is anything I can do!
Renee
I am so sorry to hear that. Saddens my heart! But you are right. There is peace in knowing she is with Jesus and you will see her again.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I am so sorry for the family. My prayers go out to you
my sympathies are with you and your family.
ReplyDeletethat's a great verse to remember...i'm not sure i've heard it before.
ReplyDelete"We do not grieve as those who have no hope." I Thessalonians 4:13
i'm so happy she's painfree! and thankful she had family with her when she passed. and that she knew where she was going.
mari, i am so sorry to hear about your sister-in-law, may you all feel and know the comforter is with you. God's ways we just don't understand. i love your verses. they really bring comfort to our souls. what a sweet reunion she had that day.
ReplyDeletehugs to you. janel
Sad news but great eternal joy for Jan. May you all find peace and comfort at this time of sorrow. Love ya!
ReplyDeleteI pray that God will send his Holy Spirit to comfort your family. Our Pastor was quoting a verse this weekend where it says that in the resurrection Jesus took the sting of death away, because now death is just a means of transportation for those that believe. An exchange from this life to an eternal life of happiness.
ReplyDeleteMy deepest condolences to you and your family during this difficult time.
ReplyDeleteYour memories and strength will help you through, I am certain.
You will all continue to be in my prayers.
I'm sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry.
ReplyDeletePraying our Lord will give your family peace, the kind of peace only Jesus can give us. John 14:27/Matt 5:4
Blessings-
Mari,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am sorry I didn't see this sooner.
Amy