For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2
I went to early morning services this morning at church. I usually go to the late morning service but today the power was being turned off for the morning at my building while they do some kind of maintenance work. It seemed best to be out.
When I got home I was stunned by a phone call from my mother. She reported that Marlene, the wife of the husband and wife team (Tom & Marlene) that looks after my autistic niece and another autistic woman, in addition to their own daughter, has died.
Marlene died very suddenly yesterday of a massive heart attack. She was only 49 years old.
While most of us know that death can come to any of us at any time, we are nevertheless shocked when it happens so suddenly to someone in seeming good health.
After talking with my mom, I called Marlene's husband, Tom and offered my condolences. He is in shock and doing his best to remain positive and focused for the whirlwind that will arrive this week as family and loved ones arrive. Even in grief he recognizes that my niece also needs comfort as it is like she has lost two moms and I guess she has been saying "Marlene died, like mom". He told me that he shared with my niece that his wife is now in heaven greeting my sister, my niece's own mom and that the two of them are laughing and sharing stories about my awesome niece. I guess my nephew has also been there to comfort his sister.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn...
Ecclesiastes 3:4
I just heard the news and I am still processing it. I am in a bit of shock and my system is jolted with the sudden and unexpected news. My heart is grieved for a woman I knew to be a powerhouse in her sphere of influence and she will be greatly missed.
All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again...
Ecclesiastes 3:20
I will say some prayers for the family today and gives thanks anew for my daily blessings and the gift of life, a fragile and sometimes fleeting gift.
Love to you and yours.
8 comments:
I'm sad for you Joyful - it makes you feel that life is so transient, doesn't it? 49 is no age to go.
Caroline
Thank you, Caroline. It was a shock for me but much sadder for all her family. 49 is so young for sure. Life is fleeting so best to be prepared for the eternal.
You have taken your grief and put it into a form that gives us all a lot to think about. Prayers to your niece, to you, and to all affected by this sadness.
I'm so sorry to hear of your niece's loss. I bet this will be very hard for her...as well as everyone else involved.
Thank you for your prayers. I find whenever someone dies, it gives me pause for thought about my own life and mortality. Some day we all return to dust in the physical and I want my spiritual body to continue in a better place :-)
Thank you for your kind thoughts. It will be hard on my niece and all of Marlene's family.
Indeed 49 is so young! My condolences to you and her family. May the Lord rest her soul in peace
Thank you OtienoHongo. Thank you very much.
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