This story hits close to home, for me, although most of it is fictitious. I have lost over 6 people I was very close to in the past five years. Just as we were dealing with the loss of one, another one would be taken. While it's not easy to lose someone you love, and we do grieve, there is hope and a way to overcome. I know where those 6 people are, and I know for certain I will see them again someday. I have that reassurance, what about those who don't??
I grieve for them. While we are still here, we can help those who have no hope. At my grandparent's funerals, people left saying, "That was the most beautiful funeral I ever went to." That's because it was different...yes, we were sad, but we were also joyful and we left the ones, who are really "lost" here on earth, with the assurance that there is life after death! Just think where that person went? We should be grieving they got there first! While most consider them dead, in essence they are really alive!! Imagine the people they are visiting with? Imagine the streets of gold, pearly gates, beautiful houses God has built for those who love Him!! What an awesome thing to think about!! I sure can't wait for it, but God has not called me home yet, so while I'm here, I want to hold out hope for others and let them know they don't have to fear death. God can see you through another day. Yes, grieve...even scream your brains out and ask God why, He can handle it, but never let go of Him. God's got a plan, purpose and reason for it all. I hope my "sermon for the day" ministered to your heart, and my story does likewise.
:) God bless and keep you all.
“Danny? Time to get up!” His mom shouted up the stairs. Her voice carried into the bedroom were thirteen year old Danny slept on his captain style bed. He pulled his blue flannel sheets over his head, hoping it would muffle it. He didn’t want to get up. He heard his name again, groaned and threw the sheets back.
“I’m coming!” He yelled back.
With a big yawn and stretch, he flung his feet over the side of the bed and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror across the room. Boy, was he a sight in the morning. His short brown hair was sticking out at all angles, his T-shirt was twisted, and his brown eyes stared back under heavy eyelids. He stuck his tongue out at his reflection, “Yeah, I’m gettin’ up. What do you care anyway?” Danny jumped when he felt something brush against his arm. He picked up his black and white cat, Hairball, and gave him a hug, “At least you have enough sense to be quiet in the morning.” As if on cue, Hairball meowed. “Well, when you’re hungry. I’m hungry too. Guess we better get downstairs before I get yelled at again. What do you think?” Hairball purred his approval.
******
“Danny, you’re going to be fourteen years old. You need to take some responsibility.”
Danny rolled his eyes, and looked at his mother. Joanna Barret was a beautiful woman at forty-one, with long red hair, and green eyes. She was thin and stylish, and was known by many as “the classiest lady”. She paced back and forth in the kitchen, her heels tapping on the white tile floor.
“Mom, I know.”
“Well, if you know, why is the garage still a mess? Why do I have to constantly keep after you to keep your room clean? Why can’t I ever get you to mow the lawn once in a while, so your father doesn’t have to do it?” She said, still pacing. Her long, thin arms flailed to help emphasize the point.
“Sweetheart, he’s thirteen years old. The more you bug him, the more he’ll just do his own thing.” Danny’s father, Michael, piped in, then took another bite of eggs. People always called Danny Junior, because he looked so much like his father. Michael had the same brown hair and brown eyes, even the same dimple on his right cheek. Although he was short, only 5’8”, he was well-built from years working as a physical fitness trainer at the local gym.
Danny’s mother went on, “Oh, you’re a big help. You just sit there, eating your breakfast, while I do all the disciplining.”
‘Here we go again’, Danny thought. His parents were always fighting. Well, for the most part they got along, but when they fought, it got hairy. His father was normally the calm one, while his mother was quite vivacious, and the combination set the other one off. Danny was glad he took after both parents. He listened to them go back and forth, and finally couldn’t take much more. The black wood chair scraped against the floor, making a noise loud enough so his mother jumped, “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I have to get ready for school.”
“Oh, gosh, your bus will be here any minute. Go...get ready.”
As he walked out of the kitchen, he heard his parents apologizing. Michael knew he shouldn’t contradict her in front of Danny, she shouldn’t put him down in front of Danny. It was always the same, but Danny knew it would happen again. He sighed heavily as he put on his jacket and grabbed his backpack before heading out the door.
“Danny, your lunch!” His mother called behind him. She handed him the paper bag, then stood staring at him.
“Mom, why are you staring at me?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Danny, I’m sorry about yelling at you. You know I love you. I just want to see you help out around her, you know? Can you do that for me?”
Danny shook his head. While she was always after him about one thing or another, he did love his mother very much. After all, what mother isn’t like that? His mother reached out for a hug and Danny hugged her back. He heard a familiar sound and turned to see his big yellow bus coming down his street to take him to school.
******
Joanna scrubbed furiously at the stubborn spot on the green marble countertop. “Why won’t you come out?” She said, as if speaking to the spot would help. It finally began to give and she was able to put the sponge down and rest her arm. She turned to look around the kitchen. It wasn’t big, but it wasn’t small either. It went nicely with all the Victorian decor she had spread all over the yellow Victorian house she and Michael had bought only three years ago. They had saved for years to buy this house, and now she finally had it. She lived a normal life, well, as normal as she thought anyway. She had a husband she loved, for the most part, a son she adored, a beautiful house, and a job that let her be home after school for Danny.
Speaking of her job, she needed to get ready or she’d be late. A sudden pain in her side made her double over. She gritted her teeth, but it quickly subsided and she thought nothing of it.
“Probably just those eggs I made for breakfast. Guess I better bring some Tums with me.” She thought.
******
The pain Joanna was feeling didn’t seem to go away, no matter how many Tums she consumed. Normally typing around 80 words a minute, Joanna felt as if she were typing 8. Her hand was constantly rubbing the pain away.
“You ok? You look a little pale.” A deep voice startled her. Joanna looked up into a friendly face. She couldn’t help but smile. The deep voice came from her friend, Josephine, or Jo Jo as she liked to be called. She was a heavyset woman, with ebony skin, big brown eyes and the biggest, whitest smile Joanna had ever seen. She also had the biggest heart. Joanna and Jo Jo had become great friends over the years, and Jo Jo always seemed to know when something was wrong with her friend.
“Yeah, I think I’m alright. I’ve been having a little pain in my side all morning. Won’t seem to go away.”
“Well, if that keeps up, might I suggest you get it checked out?”
“I’ll give it some time. If it doesn’t stop, I promise I’ll go to the doctor.” She winced again at another sharp pain.
Jo Jo looked at her with her big brown eyes, “You better go. You know how I worry about you.”
“I know.” Joanna smiled, “And I appreciate it.”
Jo Jo patted her on the shoulder, “You know, you’re still invited to my Tuesday night Bible study. I’ve been praying for you.”
Joanna didn’t know why she said it, but she did, “You know what? Maybe I will go.”
A big grin spread over Jo Jo’s face, “Well, praise the Lord. A glimmer of hope!” Both woman laughed. Jo Jo had been sharing her faith to Joanna for months. Although Joanna believed there was a God, she just didn’t buy all the stuff Jo Jo talked about. When Jo Jo walked away, Joanna looked back at her screen but couldn’t seem to concentrate. The screen seemed a little blurry.
Maybe she should get her eyes checked, she thought. Joanna soon went home, telling everyone she thought she may have some kind of bug, nothing to worry about. When she got home, she immediately went to bed and fell asleep. When she woke up, the pain was gone.
“Ah, good. Just a little rest is all I needed.” But when she looked at the clock, she saw she had slept over five hours. Danny would be home from soccer practice any minute.
******
“Mom? I’m home.” She heard his familiar voice call up the stairs and breathed a sigh of relief. She knew he was safe. The sound of his footsteps could be heard coming up the carpeted stairway, then down the hall to his bedroom where the door slammed shut. It was a familiar routine, and Joanna lay her head back on her pillow.
“Joanna?” She heard her name. Her green eyes forced themselves open and there stood Michael, “What time is it?” She muttered.
“Almost six. I didn’t want to wake you, but Danny and I are hungry. You know how I cook.”
“Oh, good heavens! You’ll burn my kitchen down. Hold on, give me a few and I’ll be down.”
Michael left the room and Joanna slowly slipped out of bed. She still wasn’t feeling well. The pain was back and it was more intense. The blue carpet seemed to be closing in on her.
“Michael?” She called, “Michael?!” A big more loudly. The door flew open and Michael saw his wife on the floor doubled over in pain.
“Joanna!!”
******
“Dr. Isaacs come to ER, Dr. Isaacs come to ER.” Was heard over the loudspeaker as Michael sat in the waiting room waiting for news on his wife.
The hospital smelled sterilized, but Michael felt sick. Danny sat next to him playing Gameboy, seeming calm and peaceful. Michael’s hands nervously twisted in his lap. One hand went up to his neck where he tried to rub away the headache that just wouldn’t go away. Every possible thought ran through his mind.
“Mr. Barret?” a woman’s voice seemed to come from far away, “Mr. Barret?”
“Dad?!” Danny’s voice snapped him to attention. He looked up into a burly woman’s face. She had to be in her fifties, Michael thought. Her face was stern and manly. Her nurses uniform hugged her portly body. Hazel eyes seemed to size him up.
“Yes. I’m Michael Barret. How’s my wife?” He managed to say.
Suddenly her face became more friendly, “She’s in stable condition. They’re going to run a lot of tests to find out what’s wrong. We’d like to ask you some questions about her medical history. Would you mind coming with me?”
Michael obediently followed. Danny shut off his Gameboy and tagged along. They went down a long corridor and into a room where the nurse shut the door and sat heavily into a chair behind a large desk. Papers were neatly piled on the desk. Surprising for a person who looked the way she did. Degrees and certificates lined the wall in a nice pattern. He drew his attention to the woman behind the desk as she leafed through some papers. Questions flew and Michael answered.
******
“Man, that was like a debriefing!” Danny told his father as the two sat eating some dinner later on in a nearby diner. Reassured nothing could be done while they waited, Michael took his hungry son to eat. Michael sat across from him, apparently not hungry, as his greasy hamburger sat untouched. Danny devoured his cheeseburger, not having eaten a thing since lunch. Yes, lunch, the paper bag his mother had given him. It was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Danny’s favorite since childhood. His mother always seemed to make them perfectly.
“Yep.” Was all Michael could mutter.
“Dad, is mom gonna be okay?” The question came out of nowhere.
Michael’s head perked up. He had been so absorbed in himself, he hadn’t thought about how Danny was feeling, “I don’t know Danny, I really don’t know. I sure hope so.” He fought back the tears that threatened to escape, then put a reassuring hand on Danny’s.
Suddenly, Danny no longer felt hungry either. His thoughts drifted back to better days. It was a silly memory, but Danny never forgot the best part. It wasn’t something that happened often in the Barret home.
Danny was ten. Joanna had to work late, something very unusual, so the two boys were left to fend for themselves. Michael had taken a shot at cooking, and almost burnt the house down. Joanna walked in the door and saw smoke coming from the kitchen. She ran inside and managed to put the flames out in the burning pan on the stove.
“What on earth?” She coughed, fanning the last flames out.
“I tried.” He gave his wife his most pathetic look, and Joanna couldn’t help but smile. Both were ready for her to go off on him and how she hated when he was in the kitchen, but Joanna had good news. She had gotten a raise and promotion. Michael and Joanna hugged and kissed, then grabbed Danny for a group hug. Instead of her cooking, they all went out for a celebration dinner. Danny loved those “family nights”, especially the hug, and although few and far between, suddenly feared they would be no more.
“Son, let’s go see how your mother’s doing.” Michael interrupted his thoughts.
As they headed out the diner, Danny grabbed his father for a hug. For a split second, Michael didn’t know what to do. He then grabbed his son in a firm grip, and for the first time since his wife went into the hospital, Michael Barret cried.
******
Back upstairs, father and son awaited the news. Both felt something dreadful was coming. Jo Jo sat nearby in prayer. Some other family members, Joanna’s two sisters, brother, and two nieces had recently arrived. They were all hurting just as bad.
“Would anyone mind if I prayed out loud?” Jo Jo broke the silence. Seven heads turned.
“Would you?” A timid voice asked. Seven heads turned to look at Danny, “Can she dad?” He looked for approval.
“Of course. Please.” He turned pleadingly to Jo Jo.
Eight heads bowed in prayer, but were soon interrupted.
“Excuse me for interrupting, but the test results are in.”
Here it was. The big blow. Michael grabbed Danny’s hand. Jo Jo prayed. The rest of the family stood still, afraid to move. ‘Lord’, Jo Jo silently prayed, ‘Your will be done.’
