Friday, July 29, 2011

Her Youth Has Been Restored Like the Eagle's

 **Before I share my Journey of Faith post, I would like to encourage each of you to visit Naptime Momtog today.  I am sharing a guest post for Sarah "10 Reasons Why I Love Photography."

Amber's Articles
Her Youth Has Been Restored Like The Eagle's
A few months ago I wrote an article titled Closer to Home where I shared about the sadness (experienced here on earth) that comes with saying goodbye to not only a person(s), but to a generation and a home that has had an impact on young lives for 30+years.  Well, this week the feeling I had when writing Closer to Home has become a reality.  My maternal grandmother left this pain ridden earth and has entered into the place all of our hearts long for........our Heavenly home.  Granny no longer has to dream or long for a perfect relationship, because she is now in the presence of the one she has been waiting for....her perfect Father.  Today, I will share a portion of the eulogy I wrote and read at her funeral. 
I cherish the moments I remember her painting. She was so very talented and took such joy in teaching sis to paint, as a child. I laugh at how she loved to sun bathe and clean. I was always amazed at how dark she would get, but I was more amazed how hard she would scrub....not her only her skin, but the counters. I have wonderful memories of our short shopping trips, of her long fingernails scratching my back, of nights curled up beside her while she told me fairy tales, of her singing or humming hymns, and of her joy when telling stories from her childhood days on Toler. She not only took joy in telling stories from her childhood, but she would smile from ear to ear when re-telling stories about sis, Dalton, Colby and myself. She would always hug me and tell me she was so proud of me.
Many years ago after I shared a eulogy at my paternal grandfather’s funeral, granny Betty asked if I would do the same for her and papaw. She asked several times during those years if I would read Psalm 103.

Praise the LORD, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

3 who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The LORD works righteousness

and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,

his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

15 The life of mortals is like grass,

they flourish like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting

the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children’s children—

18 with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his bidding,

who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,

you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works

everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the LORD, my soul.

I know with certainty that my granny’s youth has been restored like the eagle’s. I know with certainty that she is now experiencing the fullness of the Lord’s compassion. Although her flower on this earth has blown away, she is now resting in the arms of the God of love that we all long for. We may miss her here, but she is now experiencing the perfect relationship that she has been waiting for. She is praising the LORD in person.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

I am so sorry for your loss, Amber. I will be praying for you and your family. The assurance of salvation and peace for your Grandma is an amazing blessing, but God also understands our pain of missing her on earth. A beautiful post and a perfect Psalm. Hugs, friend!

Kay K said...

Amber,
Betty was a wonderful person. I too can hear her humming I recall her singing in the choir at the old Allen church.
Thanks for sharing the Psalms she is now at rest ....singing , humming and praising our LORD the one who she loved........."Rest in the arm of JESUS my dear friend Betty"

Ashley Sisk said...

Oh Amber - that was so beautiful.

Katie Perdue said...

Amber, that was beautiful- I love Psalm 103. Thanks so much for sharing a peice of the eulogy. I loved your guest post also- I'm new to the photography hobby, but have quickly fallen in love with it as an outlet to grow and a constant challenge to learn. Your photos are always amazing!

Kindra said...

I love this Psalm, especially verses 13-14. I pray that your time with your family has brought renewed memories of special times shared with your Granny. It's so wonderful when we know that our loved ones are with Jesus and we will be with them once again.

Carolina said...

Very touching and beautifully written post. You have a gift of not only taking pictures, but also describing scenes to make the reader feel as if they are actually there.

I love the contrast of your granny's hand at the end of the post to 'Her youth has been restored like eagle's'. Like Kindra said, what an incredibly joyous moment when we are reunited with our loved ones once again!

Amanda said...

You have me in tears. I am so sorry for your loss and I am also reminded that my own grandmothers are getting older and there time will be soon. Psalm 103 is beautiful and just what I needed to read and reflect on today. Love your heart!