one year ago...
On Tuesday, March 14, 2006, I got a phone call while I was at work. My mom's voice was shaky, and instantly I knew something was wrong. She informed me that my Grandma Maguire had had a heart attack and was in the hospital but they weren't sure how bad it was. We didn't know much then, so I was prayerful and hopeful, but when another call came later that afternoon, my heart sank with grief. The prognosis was not good; she had not regained consciousness, and it really depended on the next 24 hours if she'd pull out of it. I went with my family to visit her that evening. As we stood praying and singing hymns around her bed, I knew God could bring her back to us (and how I wanted Him to).
My Grandma Maguire was warmth and love defined. She was always ready to pour out hugs and food on anyone who came through her doors (or was graced by her presence). "The prayer of a righteous woman is powerful and effective" is an understatement....she prayed more faithfully and consistently than anyone I know. From the time she knew I was conceived she and my grandpa were praying for me, and for my future husband. She had a missionary's heart and served the Lord all her days alongside her husband. Though never going out as a missionary overseas, she raised 5 children who love the Lord and many of her children and grandchildren have gone on to be in missions and ministry, not to mention the countless lives she touched through simply displaying the love of Christ to all.
My Grandparents' relationship was tender and beautiful. They still had a gleam in their eyes, held hands and cuddled close, giggled when they recounted their love story and history, and kissed after mealtime prayers. As far as I know, every day for 54+ years of marriage, the two lovebirds prayed together, with lists of people and requests that were on their hearts, bringing them before God, uniting their hearts and lives before the Throne of Grace. My personal belief is that because they prayed together faithfully, their unity spiritually kept them bound together in every other way. Of course they were still sinners and had their failings, but grace and love and faith gave them strength and joy for the long haul.
By Wednesday evening last year, we knew she would not make it, but until that Sunday the 19th, we waited...hearts grieving and asking why, searching for and clinging to the Truth and trusting that God knows what He's doing. Those 5 days were a mercy from the Lord to be able to say our goodbyes while she was yet with us in body. Three of those evenings, I was helping out with Mars Hill's live worship CD recording. That, too, was a mercy from God, for the music, the fellowship, the time of worship, all ministered to my soul and kept my focus steadily on where our Hope rests. Sunday night, as Carrie was driving me home from church and hanging out, my mom called to tell me Grandma was safely Home with Jesus. The grief was strong, for many reasons, including that my Grandma would never meet the man I would marry (for I hadn't either :-)). I already missed her prayers for me and wondered if saints who've gone on before still pray, or "have more sway" because they see with heavenly eyes.
My Grandpa moved to Greenville last summer, and I began attending Calvary Baptist in Greenville more often, so he wouldn't have to sit alone. Life and time moved on, summer turned to autumn, and I found myself meeting and connecting with more people at Calvary since I was there with my Grandpa and my family. And through that was invited to be part of the 20-somethings group and through that met John. And so the story goes...and it's not over yet, for me, my Grandpa or my family and friends touched by my Grandma's life. It's amazing to look back and see God's hand of faithfulness on His children's lives, to see how He brings us through loss and grief and trials that sometimes seem to overwhelm us, and yet there is Hope, not only in this life, but also in the one to come. I pray that in this year since my Grandma's death, that my life and faith have been such that bring praise, glory and honor to Jesus Christ. And that my life will continue in the pattern my Grandparents have set before me, of love and prayer and ministry and a solid trust in God's faithfulness.
Last year at this time, I clung to this passage of Scripture in hope and trust: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." ~ 1 Peter 1:3-9
On Tuesday, March 14, 2006, I got a phone call while I was at work. My mom's voice was shaky, and instantly I knew something was wrong. She informed me that my Grandma Maguire had had a heart attack and was in the hospital but they weren't sure how bad it was. We didn't know much then, so I was prayerful and hopeful, but when another call came later that afternoon, my heart sank with grief. The prognosis was not good; she had not regained consciousness, and it really depended on the next 24 hours if she'd pull out of it. I went with my family to visit her that evening. As we stood praying and singing hymns around her bed, I knew God could bring her back to us (and how I wanted Him to).
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