Vicki's mom's death ... a testimony of God's grace

[mattfivefour]

Vicki had the blessing of nursing her mother through her last three weeks until her death ... a merciful death that came before she suffered the agony of the rapidly growing tumors in her brain. Every time their mother woke up, she saw her daughters' faces as they gazed on her with love, she heard her daughters' voices as they spoke to her and told her how much they loved her and how safe she was and prayed and read psalms and sang spiritual hymns, and she felt her daughters' hands on her as they held and comforted her. Indeed, Vicki and her sister Dawna held and bathed and loved their mother to the end, along with their sister Joyce.

When the end came, Vicki called her sisters into the room and they all testified that indeed their mother had left this earthly shell and had gone on up to be with Jesus. There was, of course, a time of great tears. Vicki held her mother's body in her arms until the funeral director arrived three hours later. She then organized both the funeral service in Salem, Oregon and the graveside service in El Mirage, Arizona. In the midst of great stress and sorrow, Vicki managed everything, ensuring that her mother's final wishes were respected. At the Salem service, Dawna's daughter Nina, who is a professional singer, sang Softly and Tenderly and Dawna (herself an accomplished singer) sang Amazing Grace, both accompanied by Dawna's husband, Jules, who is a pastor and a professional musician. At the El Mirage service, Vicki's daughter Cynthia (also a professional singer) sang Amazing Grace a capella, struggling against tears as she stood in front of her grandmother's coffin under the blazing Arizona sun.

Vicki held up well throughout it all—through the grace and power of God—from the afternoon of the 14th when her mother went home to glory to until the afternoon of the 21 when her mother's shell was laid to rest in Arizona. I was so proud of her. If I could love her any more I would burst. Then when we got back to the motel, she turned to me and said, "It is finished. I have carried out my mother's wishes and she is now laid to rest in her 'beloved desert'" (which is how she always referred to the place she grew up). Then Vicki fell apart.

She is slowly recovering now. Physically. And emotionally. Spiritually was never in question. Vicki's faith is stronger now than it has ever been ... and it has always been strong. Please continue to hold Vicki and her family up in prayer. We are worried about her father. He has taken this very hard. He is 83 and had been married to his wife since they were 18. He has two forms of slow growing cancer and we are worried he will give up the will to fight and live. He is not saved. Prayers for his salvation and that of Vicki's sister Joyce and brother Richard would be appreciated.

To all of you who prayed for us in this situation, thank you. May your kindness return upon your own head and your own home. May the Father of Lights bless and keep and guide you all the days of your lives. And may your unsaved loved ones come to a saving knowledge of Jesus who died that they might live.

[Robert]

[Meg]

Thank you for the update Matt

We will continue to pray for Vickie and her family with deepest sympathy and hope...

[mattfivefour]

I should have mentioned that at both of the funeral services the gospel of Jesus Christ was preached! \o/ \o/

[LivnForChrist]

hughughug

[FaithInChrist]

I was joking with my husband the other day that I need to keep a box of tissues near my computer for when I read on this most wonderful forum.

Needless to say this beautiful post evoked some serious liquid prayers. I will most definitely keep lifting Vicki up in prayer, that God keep offering her comfort, then Vicki's dad is in my most serious of prayers. I will add him to the prayers for the unsaved, which include my son and my husband's family. I will add a prayer, for God's blessings for you Matt, you are such a wonderful supportive loving husband. Thank you for the update.

[Glory to God]

Praying for Vicki, for her Dad and family

[anath]

Please hug dear Vicki for me. What a gem she is, Matt...far more precious than rubies. Will keep Vicki and her dad in prayer

[readytogo]

hug for you and Vicki.

for Vicki and her loved ones (especially her father's salvation.)

[Suzanne]

Praying for you all. God bless you.

[SonSeeker]

Vicki, you are in our prayers and have been for some time.hug

We always ask what can we do to help in times such as this, and it has been impressed upon me that

the best we can do as a Forum is to pray for Vicki's dad, that he accept the Lord.



Lord Sweet Jesus,
We approach You to beg for the Salvation of Vicki's dad. As You know, he has not accepted You as his Lord and Savior. His wife and lifetime companion is with You now, and it would bring so much glory to You if these two could be re-united in Heaven. Only You know how many breaths each of us will take in this lifetime, but he is 83 years old, and doesn't have much time left, especially since he is heartbroken over his loss. To your Glory, we ask this.

Amen.

[Forgiven]

[Longing2cJesus]

She is slowly recovering now. Physically. And emotionally. Spiritually was never in question. Vicki's faith is stronger now than it has ever been ... and it has always been strong. Please continue to hold Vicki and her family up in prayer. We are worried about her father. He has taken this very hard. He is 83 and had been married to his wife since they were 18. He has two forms of slow growing cancer and we are worried he will give up the will to fight and live. He is not saved. Prayers for his salvation and that of Vicki's sister Joyce and brother Richard would be appreciated.

Thank you so very much for sharing with us all about Vicki's Mom and family.

for Vicki's Dad and her sister Joyce and brother Richard. May our LORD bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.




Ann

[mikhen7]

Vicki had the blessing of nursing her mother through her last three weeks until her death ... a merciful death that came before she suffered the agony of the rapidly growing tumors in her brain. Every time their mother woke up, she saw her daughters' faces as they gazed on her with love, she heard her daughters' voices as they spoke to her and told her how much they loved her and how safe she was and prayed and read psalms and sang spiritual hymns, and she felt her daughters' hands on her as they held and comforted her. Indeed, Vicki and her sister Dawna held and bathed and loved their mother to the end, along with their sister Joyce.

When the end came, Vicki called her sisters into the room and they all testified that indeed their mother had left this earthly shell and had gone on up to be with Jesus. There was, of course, a time of great tears. Vicki held her mother's body in her arms until the funeral director arrived three hours later. She then organized both the funeral service in Salem, Oregon and the graveside service in El Mirage, Arizona. In the midst of great stress and sorrow, Vicki managed everything, ensuring that her mother's final wishes were respected. At the Salem service, Dawna's daughter Nina, who is a professional singer, sang Softly and Tenderly and Dawna (herself an accomplished singer) sang Amazing Grace, both accompanied by Dawna's husband, Jules, who is a pastor and a professional musician. At the El Mirage service, Vicki's daughter Cynthia (also a professional singer) sang Amazing Grace a capella, struggling against tears as she stood in front of her grandmother's coffin under the blazing Arizona sun.

Vicki held up well throughout it all—through the grace and power of God—from the afternoon of the 14th when her mother went home to glory to until the afternoon of the 21 when her mother's shell was laid to rest in Arizona. I was so proud of her. If I could love her any more I would burst. Then when we got back to the motel, she turned to me and said, "It is finished. I have carried out my mother's wishes and she is now laid to rest in her 'beloved desert'" (which is how she always referred to the place she grew up). Then Vicki fell apart.

She is slowly recovering now. Physically. And emotionally. Spiritually was never in question. Vicki's faith is stronger now than it has ever been ... and it has always been strong. Please continue to hold Vicki and her family up in prayer. We are worried about her father. He has taken this very hard. He is 83 and had been married to his wife since they were 18. He has two forms of slow growing cancer and we are worried he will give up the will to fight and live. He is not saved. Prayers for his salvation and that of Vicki's sister Joyce and brother Richard would be appreciated.

To all of you who prayed for us in this situation, thank you. May your kindness return upon your own head and your own home. May the Father of Lights bless and keep and guide you all the days of your lives. And may your unsaved loved ones come to a saving knowledge of Jesus who died that they might live.

I am there with you my brother and sister. I love you both. Praying for her father. God will get the victory!!

[Hannah]

Praising God for His kindness on your wife Vicki and her siblings. I pray for the salvation of those who witnessed your MILs and families testimony of faith in Jesus. Amen

God is with us always.

[Elijah's Mantle]

praying Brother Matt
and especially for Vicki's Dad
that all of you will be comforted in this time of loss and grief

[Suzanne]

Vicki, you are in our prayers and have been for some time.hug

We always ask what can we do to help in times such as this, and it has been impressed upon me that

the best we can do as a Forum is to pray for Vicki's dad, that he accept the Lord.



Lord Sweet Jesus,
We approach You to beg for the Salvation of Vicki's dad. As You know, he has not accepted You as his Lord and Savior. His wife and lifetime companion is with You now, and it would bring so much glory to You if these two could be re-united in Heaven. Only You know how many breaths each of us will take in this lifetime, but he is 83 years old, and doesn't have much time left, especially since he is heartbroken over his loss. To your Glory, we ask this.

Amen.

Praying in agreement.