Streets Made of Gold

Awhile ago, a sweet friend of mine's mother passed away from cancer. Now obviously, this is a disease I've come to hate being that it has taken many members of my immediate family, including my mom. But I have also come to feel as if it is a "being" in my life. It has and still is affecting so many people-strike that-friends and loved ones in my life right now, I almost feel as if it is a deliberate attack coming from somewhere very sinister. It has taken a form of purpose and I despise it. It's a dark side the force hasn't quite figured out how to conquer yet. I'm sure I am not describing it correctly, but can't find the words I guess because it is so personal. However, I am proud to say these people are all fighting back and have in no way given up. Even my sweet, stubborn, grumpy, story-telling dad-in-law. Man he's great. By the way, the photo to the right was taken by D out in Granbury the other day when his dad started getting worse. That was a single cloud formation in the sky at just the right time. Again...God speaks and we listen.

Back to my friend's mom...at her funeral service, there was a poem printed on the program (for lack of a better term). When I read it, I instantly felt comfort when looking back on the day my mom went to be with Jesus. See, I wasn't with her (no one was) and I have felt such remorse over it ever since.

Years ago, a minister told me he believed when it was someone's time to go, they probably have some sort of "window". In other words, they go when they are ready and the window stays open until they are ready to pass through. He said on one side are the person's earthly loved ones and on the other side are the loved ones who have been experiencing the magnitude of Heaven, cheering them on to pass through the window. He said, "Think about it...would you want your kids to watch you pass away? While it turns into a celebration for you, they don't feel that here. We can't possibly imagine what is waiting for us on the 'other side'. " Hmmmm...never thought of it that way. Did she "choose" to go at that time so we wouldn't have to experience that pain? No way to tell, at least not right now. But it was an interesting viewpoint.

I keep getting off-track. The poem in the program (I've pasted it below) brought it all together for me and filled my heart.

As we watch my father-in-law fight this disease (his is lung cancer), I'm reminded that where he is eventually going (where all believers are eventually going) is far grander than anything we could possibly imagine. You know they have Streets Made of Gold there, right? :-) Wonders we've never known.

I am standing by the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sun and sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, 'There she goes! Gone where? Gone from my sight - that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the places of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says 'There she goes! ', there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: 'Here she comes!'

So, in true "Out of the Clouds" fashion...I leave you with song. I wish there were a more "professional" style video, but the words will definitely speak to you...trust me on this.