Two Miracles (part IV)

Four days later, I returned to see if I could capture another photograph of the hummingbird feeding off the iris.  I got to the botanical garden early and ran into Shelly in the parking lot.  I asked him about the iris, and he told me the bloom had died, and he picked it off.  He said there must have been another bloom underneath it because a new bloom opened.

I was excited about photographing the new bloom, and I hoped the hummingbird would come back.  I got all of my equipment set and waited.  It began to drizzle a little bit, but I was determined to stay.  I waited about 15 minutes in the rain and for some reason I did not have my face to the back of the camera.  The hummingbird let her presence be known by the roar of her wings.  But it was too late.  She buzzed around the flower very briefly then flew away.  I was so disappointed that I did not get the shot.

I waited for probably an hour and a half more and she never came back.  It had been raining lightly the whole time but luckily I had something to throw over my shoulders to keep me dry.  I found another worker I know and told her Shelly should get the first bloom and press it for Jason’s mom.  I left disappointed, but I think I may have one more try before the bloom is gone. 

I went back today, and the bloom had closed and wilted.  Again, I was disappointed, but I knew ahead of time that when the Lord allows me to photograph His divine appointments, it has always been a one-time shot.  I am thankful for the two miracles He allowed me to document, and I will never forget the story! 

Two Miracles (part III)

A short time later Shelly walked up.  He said the flower had bloomed the day before.  I told him I had been crying, and then showed him the image on the back of my camera.  To add to the miracle, he said he has never seen a hummingbird in the Iris garden!  That doesn't surprise me.

He said he was going to call Jason’s mom, and I told him to please give her my email.  I want to print and mat the photo and give it to her.

Shelly walked away and the next thing I know, he was bringing a few workers to the Iris garden.  I had met two of the workers before and showed them the image.  Shelly had already told them the story of the hummingbird.   

I wanted to learn a little about Jason.  I found an article about the wreck and his page from the funeral home’s website.  I cried as I read the sweet things friends and family wrote about him.  I read about the great guy Shelly told me about.  From what I read, he personally knew the Lord, so he is Heaven with Jesus experiencing an incredible life!

Two Miracles (part II)

 

I was very touched by the story and knew this was one of God’s many miracles that He still performs today.  I wanted to photograph the iris and put the story on my blog.  When I first photographed the flower, it had not opened yet.  I came back another time and again it had not opened. 

Today, September 20^th, 2013, I noticed the iris had opened.  I was so excited!  Dew decorated its petals, and it was early in the morning, so the light was beautiful.  I kept saying “It’s coming….it’s coming.”  I knew the perfect light was coming, and I needed to be ready.

I had my camera and long lens mounted on a tripod and set my camera to have a two second delay after I clicked the shutter, so I wouldn’t cause any vibrations.  After the camera captured the photograph, I would look on the back of the camera to see the photo I captured.  I did this several times and used several different angles. 

I realized the second miracle as I looked at the back of my camera.  It had happened without any sound or warning. The miracle was the biggest blessing to me, and I started to cry!  As I looked at the camera, I was in disbelief.  Did I see what I thought I saw?  Yes, I did…..it was a hummingbird feeding from the flower!  Calculate that miracle with numbers:  me setting up my camera on a tripod with a two second delay, me never seeing or hearing the hummingbird, and in those two seconds after I pressed the shutter release, a hummingbird slipped into the photo while I was photographing the first miracle!

I just sat there and cried.  I did not feel worthy of capturing that photograph and said so out loud.  The Lord knows hummingbirds are my favorite bird to photograph.  I believe I can recall thinking how it would be neat if a hummingbird came by and it did.

This is pretty much the original framed shot.  I cropped in a little bit, but this is all of the hummer the photo captured.

Two Miracles (part I)

Just this week I learned about a neat story.  A curator, Shelly, at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, knew about my blog and thought I would like to hear a story.  He wanted to show me something in the Iris garden, so I followed.  He walked me to an iris that was blooming and about to open.

He told me about the flower and the amazing story behind it.  What could be so neat about an iris in the garden?  This story is of one miracle that turned into two.  The story of the flower is special because of a young man named Jason who worked in the garden in the past, and the Japanese iris was his favorite.

Jason was killed in a car wreck on September 18, 2012.  Shelly took Jason’s mom some iris plants and planted them at her house the month after he died.  Shelly told me Jason was the greatest person you would ever meet.

The first miracle of the story is the flower bloomed a year and one day after he passed away, but there is more.  There are no other iris flowers blooming anywhere else in the garden.  That one flower stood amongst hundreds of other iris plants with no blooms at all.  To add to the miracle, Shelly said that particular plant had been in the ground at least four or five years and has never bloomed in September.

Being a servant (part II)

So, today I showed up at her house again.  I knew her husband went back to work today.  I told her it wasn’t my fault (about me being there), and I told her about the blog I read stating to be there.  She also said she probably wouldn’t have called.

This time I had a bucket of cleaning materials with me, and I wanted to clean her bathrooms and kitchen, then dust, and Swiffer.  I talked with her a little while I was cleaning the kitchen.  I moved the coffee pot and found two things behind it.  One of the things I found was a tithing envelope that had her son’s name on it with a dollar amount written on it.  I showed it to her in case she did not know it was there.  She said it was in his pocket (when he died) and she was going to take it to the church.  I think that is really neat!

I was able to finish cleaning their house and was glad I could minister to them in this way.  I also found out the middle and high school students at our church brought in pantry items for the family.  She had a large plastic shelving unit filled with all kinds of food.  What a great idea.

U  Having written this chapter….Do you think this was the right approach to helping a grieving person or would a person that is very private perhaps need the time and space to grieve?  What is your experience with this situation?  I know each person is different.  U

Being a servant

 

I wanted to minister to my friend, and the only way I knew how was to serve her.  I cleaned my sister's house after her newborn son passed away, and I knew cleaning house was not high on my friend's priority list. 

I went over to her house twice within the last week to see if I could persuade her to let me clean her house.  She did not know I was coming either time.  As I was pulling into her driveway the first time I went to her house, another car was also pulling in.  It was the middle school pastor and his family.  When I got to her back door, her husband greeted us.  I asked him if I was intruding on anything.  He told me they were going to see their son’s truck and get his stuff out of it.  The pastor was going with them and his wife and kids were staying at their house to watch over Grandmother.

I told my friend that I wanted to minister to her, and I brought my million dollar vacuum to clean their house.  So while they were gone, I began vacuuming their house.  I asked her before she left if she wanted me to do her son’s room.  She said it was okay.  When I got to her son’s room, I thought about the words on the song “We Are Standing on Holy Ground.”  Not that it was Holy ground, but I was trying to be respectful while being in his room.  I can’t really put it into words of how I was feeling.  On his desk were a lot of thing….his name tag from work, a graduation card, and graduation pictures.

They came back from seeing his truck.  She said it was hard, but both she and her husband commented that seeing the truck helped them to understand things better.  The door frame and windshield had bucked in near the headrest which caused their son’s fatal head and neck injuries.

I wanted to clean more, but I needed to go help Aunt June.  I told her to call me.  I knew she probably wouldn’t.  This thought got reconfirmed when I read a lady’s blog this week.  The lady wrote on her blog things not to say to someone who has lost a loved one.  This lady knew this all too well because she also lost her son.  She didn’t want people to say to call if they needed anything.  What she meant by this statement was instead of leaving a message saying that they were here, for them to actually show up to the door and be here.  She was saying to follow up with our words.

A special devotion

I went to Shari’s house to drop off my devotion book and a sympathy card.

     "People at the funeral home told me many neat things I hadn't known about Nathan. Several people said Nathan was the only person who would speak to their child. Another person said he stopped to tutor a child while he was out riding his bike," she said.

     Nathan was a servant and wanted to avoid being in the spotlight. There were so many people at the visitation. It was supposed to be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., but she left a few minutes before midnight.

Nathan's Funeral

The next day was the funeral. I prayed for grace, peace, and mercy for the family and people to come to know Christ during the funeral. It was neat to see all the people there. Nathan’s life had touched many people. There were a lot of students from several schools. Several pastors spoke, including the children’s, middle school, high school, and senior pastor. 

     I did not know Nathan well, so my grief was different. My grief was for Shari and what she and her family were going through; it was real, nonetheless. It made me think of believers as the body of Christ.

     “If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad” (1 Corinthians 12:26, NLT).

The visitation (part II)

 

Shari and her husband were standing at the head of Nathan’s casket.

     “Can you imagine if that were your son?” A lady behind me asked.

     “No, I can’t.” 

     As I approached his casket, I noticed Nathan was wearing a trendy rubber bracelet imprinted with the words “CLASS OF 2013.”

      I hugged Shari and gave her my condolences.  

     “Thank you for the flowers.” 

     “You are welcome.” 

     “I think of you when I look at them.”

     “I woke at four in the morning ... ” 

     I couldn’t utter another word as my throat clamped shut like a vice grip. I put my hands together to symbolize prayer and began crying.

     I was able to finish what I was trying to say. 

     “I stayed awake until 5:00 a.m.” 

     “I am glad because that was when I needed prayer.”

     We’ve been in the same Sunday school class for over ten years and have endured many rough times. I hugged her husband and spoke to him.

     “I have something for you,” he said.

     He reached in his pocket and pulled out a mint. We laughed. I brought mints to Sunday school to share.

The Visitation (part I)

I haven’t gone to a service where the ushers sat you because so many people stood in line. As the line shortened, they moved a few rows of seated people to the line of people standing. The pews were almost full when we approached the front of the line. Many students from his school were there, as were many older people.

     As we entered the room where the family was, the high school minister from our church stood in the doorway. 

     “Are you the official door greeter?” I asked.

     He laughed.

     “I’ve never had a student die. It’s been hard.” 

     He had gone to the family’s house and prayed with Nathan’s dad. He prayed three words and couldn’t pray anything else because of his emotions. 

     “I have been praying for the students coming to the service,” I said.

     “There are so many people praying.” 

     “I don’t know if I will be able to articulate what I needed to say during the service.” 

     “You will do fine.” 

Struck a Chord

His death struck a chord. I guess it’s because Ashton is Nathan’s age, but I also grieved for them. I prayed for the Lord to give them grace, peace, and mercy. 

     One day, I woke around 4 a.m. and prayed for a long time. The kids who went to Nathan’s school came to mind. I prayed they would come to the funeral and hear about Christ and their need for a personal relationship with Jesus. We may never know why Nathan died, but maybe it was for his classmates to hear about Jesus. 

     One night, a friend wrote a note to the family on Facebook. She said, “You raised a young man who completed his godly purpose on this earth in only 18 years. It takes so many of us so many more years to do the same.” 

     What a remarkable statement. It was a lovely tribute and made me cry.

 

 

"Just like that (part II)"

I arrived around 5:00 p.m. Shari stood in the front yard talking to our music minister. We embraced.

     “Can you believe this is happening?” 

     I shook my head. 

     “No.”

     Shari had been through a lot over the years. Her parents had passed away—her brother had prostate cancer. I was quiet and listened as she mentioned Nathan’s actions the day he died and the details of the wreck. Her strength was incredible.

     We went inside and talked. Shari was thankful for the family vacation they had taken last summer. They’d taken a three-week trip and traveled in an RV. Nathan had put together a DVD of their journey and added music. They played the DVD, so I watched part of it. I talked to family members before leaving.

     It was 7:00 p.m. when I left. Paul had already eaten, so I got dinner for Ashton and myself. Of course, I wanted to eat with Ashton after a rough night. Still, I had difficulty sitting at the table without crying. I felt terrible because I could hug Ashton, but Shari could not hug Nathan. I went to the bathroom because I did not want to cry in front of him. I made it through dinner with a tear or two, but I don’t think he noticed.

     I went to bed early to cry—I cried so hard my face hurt.

 UWe don’t know our last day on earth. Are we living as though we are?U

"Just Like That"

 “‘Just Like That’”

The phrase just like that came to mind a few times when my friend Shari’s 18-year-old son, Nathan, was killed in a wreck on August 11, 2013.

I did not know him personally. He was an intelligent kid—talented in technology. He’d helped at church and other places with lights and sound. He graduated high school and would have started college the following week. 

He spent much of the day at church functions the day he died. After taking his girlfriend home that evening, his truck veered into a ditch and hit a culvert. His vehicle overturned, and he suffered fatal injuries. 

Paul told me about his death while I was driving to Aunt June’s. I was near Shari’s house, made a U-turn, and diverted from my plans. Aunt June said it would be okay.

Many people were at their house when I arrived, but his parents were at the funeral home. I briefly stayed because it could be long before they came home—they had many decisions to make.

When I left their house, I went to help Aunt June. She needed me to go to the grocery store. I immediately stopped while passing the flower section—the flowers were stunning. I bought a bouquet for Shari.

I prayed for the Lord to give them grace, peace, and mercy throughout the day. My prayers changed when I returned to their house that afternoon. I prayed for the Lord to provide me with abundant strength.

My new “job”

Uncle Jim and Aunt June had picked out a nice two bedroom apartment at a retirement facility to live in before he passed away.  Ever since Uncle Jim died, Aunt June needs someone to help care for her because she has Parkinson’s disease. 

One of her daughters asked me if I would like to be a part-time caregiver for her.  There are four of us, and I do whatever she needs me to do.  I take her to the grocery store, shopping, and take her dog to the vet. The two things that are especially designated to me are to do her medicines each week and do her hair.  I kinda think it is funny that I do her hair.  I wash it, blow dry it, and curl it.  I was a tomboy when I was younger, and  I don’t think I have ever used a curling iron in my life! 

For Now...

 

For now, this is my last post until I go through another death.  I have enjoyed writing everything down as this is what I felt the Lord wanted me to do.  Thank you for following along.  Hopefully, you have benefited and what you have read will help you in the future:)  ~Judy

Afterword (part IV)

Mom loved Jesus with all of her heart.  In talking with Aunt Julie, she said our Christian legacy goes back a long way.  Our family legacy won’t get us into Heaven.  It has to be each person making a personal decision to ask Jesus into their heart as personal Lord and Savior.

(NLT, Matthew 7.24)      “Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse, because it is built on rock.  But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.  When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash.”

We are that house.  Christ needs to be our foundation because the winds are going to blow and beat upon our house.  Life is tough, therefore we need Christ as our Lord and Savior, so when the storms of life come (like death) we will stand firm.   

U  U  WILL YOU WALK BY FAITH?  U  U

Afterword (part III)

Another thing I regret is that when times were real hard, like the night I described under, “This night,” I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world now because as hard as the night was, at least she was still alive.  At least, she was still there with me.  As hard as times are, lean on God for your strength, and ask Him to help you through and give you peace.  Cherish the moments, as hard as they are, while your loved one is still with you.

If you are reading this book because you have a loved one or friend that is terminally ill or a loved one that is dying, I grieve for you.  I got teary eyed even writing that sentence.  I know what you are going through is hard, and I don’t have the answers, we have only trod down the same path.  The one person that does have all the answers is Jesus.  Be comforted by God’s words from (NLT, Philippians 4.13), “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (NLT, Deuteronomy 31.8) states, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  

Tonight, I feel like Mary, Jesus’ mother because I am experiencing the same feeling I think Mary went through.  Why did God choose me?  I am just an ordinary girl.  Can I do what You want me to accomplish?  How will I get it done?  What will people think?

Then I feel honored.  Honored is not a strong enough word to describe the feeling I had tonight.  What an indescribable feeling that I have never had before.  I am just in awe of how God would choose me to accomplish such a great task.

Afterword (part II)

 

I have very few regrets.  A regret I have is I did not get to tell Mom everything I wanted to tell her.  Nana has also cried as I was talking with her because she did not get to tell her everything as well.  Because Mom did not want to talk about her feelings, I did not get to tell her how much I loved her and tell her how she has been an awesome mom.

Jennifer sent Mom a card a few days before she died.  The card got to Mom’s house a few days after Mom passed away, so she never got the chance to read it.   

In the card, Jennifer told Mom that she was the best mom and in her constant thoughts.  She also told Mom she was an awesome example seen by others.  Jennifer wrote about a friend that told her our family has always been an inspiration to her with Mom leading the pack.

Jennifer told Mom she was so very thankful for her and wanted to tell her again.  These were thoughts written down that were important for her to be able to tell Mom. 

She said the last time she talked to Mom on the phone it was real hard for Mom to talk.  Mom was dehydrated and struggled to talk, so it was awkward because Jennifer had to carry the conversation.  She did not get to tell her all the things she wanted to, nor did she at the last visit to Mom’s house.  It was so difficult with Jennifer having to stay up with Mom most of the night.

 

U If you have a family member, friend, or a loved one that is dying, if you can, can tell them all the wonderful things you want to tell them? U                         

U  If you are terminally ill or dying, if you can, would you let your family members tell you all the wonderful things they need to? U