Say "See You Later"

Around 11 p.m. last night my text message alert started going off.  In the space of 10 minutes, or so, I received several messages that our pastor's step-mother had passed.

I was immediately flooded with memories of this sweet lady:

• 28 years ago, when I was just starting to fall in love with Sir Nottaguy-Imadad, this dear lady and her husband would always shake my hand, give my little girls Tic Tacs, and make sure I knew I was welcome at our new church.
• On our wedding day, they blessed us with a bit of cash, and suggested to my hubby that he take me somewhere really nice for dinner.
• During a financial crisis, she showed up on our front porch with multiple bags of food and a cooler full of home-frozen vegetables because she "had to clean stuff out to make room for new produce".
• When my hubby and I were struggling in our marriage, she would wrap her arms around me and pray and just be there.
• When her husband died, she just continued to live a faithful and Godly life.  She missed him, but she didn't wish him back from the glories of Heaven.
• A few years ago, God brought our pastor's father to her and they were married.  It was so beautiful, watching an elderly couple fall in love, marry, and care for each other.
• As her health began declining, watching her husband doing everything in his power to make life easier for her, was exquisitely lovely.

She has suffered for years with heart disease and I watched not knowing of any way to help other than to pray.  I will miss her gentle ways.  However, I will rejoice in knowing that I will see her again one day.