God's Grace

I had grown up hearing the song. 

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that is greater than all our sin.

I'd thought a lot of God's grace.  What exactly does it mean.  Well Merriam Webster defines it as "1 a: unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification"

But I want to share with you how I've experienced God's grace during my Daddy's illness and death.  Daddy was always working... anyone will tell you that he was a hard worker!  But he made it a point to be at family get-togethers - holidays, cookouts, the kids' birthdays (he shared his with Savannah - June 10th).  By the grace of God, we all (Momma, me, Scott & Brent) got to spend time with Daddy in the hospital.  And not just an hour here and there.  We spent entire days with him... talking to him and helping to take care of him. 

I keep hearing that the pain eases as time goes on, but for now it's fresh.  I had some of the hardest days that I've ever had in my lifetime last week.  On Tuesday we met with the pulmonologist and he was not very hopeful.  He told us that if Daddy continued to progress (downhill) as he was going, he would not make it more than 2 weeks.  It was such a sad day.  I headed home that afternoon to pick my kids up.  I was SO sad.  At this point I wasn't really sure what to pray for.  I'd been praying that my Daddy would get well, but he was in a lot of pain the weekend before.  And I realized just how mean this disease really is.  The doctor had explained to us that many times when people are diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, they may live a couple more years but they slowly suffocate as it becomes harder and harder to breathe.  My Daddy would never have wanted that.  I began to pray that God would take him quickly and painlessly.

I got a call from Scott just before 7 pm on Tuesday afternoon and he said we should get back to the hospital.  The doctors thought it was best.  We made it back in less than an hour.  By the grace of God there was very little traffic on the Natchez Trace and we didn't see any deer.  (I'd seen as many as 35 deer at night when traveling home from the hospital.)  We got to the hospital and Daddy was pretty much the same...  The ventilator was breathing for him.  I was so sad.  We spent the night in Tupelo and the next morning when I went in to visit, he just didn't look good.  It was soon after that when the doctor told Momma they'd try to get him in a room so all of the family could be with him.  

At about 4:30 pm on Wednesday, April 22nd, my Daddy went home with Jesus.  He never took a breath on his own.  I know that he was ready.  I find peace in the fact that he walks with Jesus now without pain and without suffering.  God's grace...

June 10, 1953 - April 22, 2009

For all my clients, please don't think I've forgotten about you.  I will get back to work slowly this week.  I will work on the Webster Care images, orders and all other sessions.  If you'd like to see sample storyboards or collages, just send me an e-mail and I will get to them as soon as I can.  Thank you all for your kindness and support during this very sad time for our family!