Saturday, April 23, 2011

A Sad Farewell

Words fail me. I need to write something, but I don't really know where to start. Let's see...

We've had a low point lately. My father-in-law passed away. He had been sick on and off for awhile. We were trying to figure out why he couldn't eat without getting sick. Little did we know that his cancer had come back. All the tests that had been run lately indicated no cancer. It took a trip to the ER and a series of tests to learn that he had stage 4 cancer. He was then transported to Hospice where he stayed for 3 days before he passed away. It all happened really quickly, but at least we were able to say goodbye. I remember thinking that it would be great for that to just be the end of it, but we had to go through the formalites of visitation and the funeral. I dreaded it so. We all made it through it, and this week we have been cleaning out his apartment.

My father-in-law, Junior Ray, was one of a kind. He loved Jesus Christ, and he lived for Him as best anyone ever could. I admired him so. He didn't have much of an education, but that didn't matter. He was a hard-working father, husband, and pawpaw. I felt so bad for him when my mother-in-law passed away, very suddenly, 3 years ago. I didn't know how he would make it, because they were an old-fashioned couple. By that, I mean that she did the cooking, laundry, and other housework. He hardly had to do anything. But after she died, he learned to do laundry and sweep and mop floors. He never really caught on to cooking, though. He would go out and pick something up, or he would just eat a sandwich. We all would often carry him a plate from our supper. He was content to sit in his living room listening to gospel music and doing his word search books or reading his Bible. There is no telling how many times he had read that Bible through. He was such a great man of God. He loved to lead singing at his church. He was a Pentecostal which meant that he wasn't above dancing a jig up there when the Spirit hit him.

Another thing that I admired about Ray was his love for his family. He would do anything he could for any of us. Oh, how he loved his new great-granddaughter, Millie. She was his first and only great-grandchild. She wasn't around him much since he lives in Scottsboro, so she was hesitant to let him hold her until she got used to him. I wish she would've let him hold her more. Justin & Chelsea brought her to visit him in the hospital after we found out. She did NOT like the hospital, and she definitely wouldn't go to him in his hospital bed. I'm just glad that he got to kiss her before they left.

We all loved Ray so very much. His death has left a huge void in our lives. But, he is now in Heaven with his wife and his Lord. I'm sure there was a glad reunion with all those loved ones who have gone on before. We shall see him again someday.

Please pray for my family as we go through the next few weeks and months without him.

4 comments:

Sue said...

Oh Sandra... I am such a bad bloggin' buddy but your post caught my eye tonight so I had to pop in to visit. I am SO sad for your loss. I will definitely pray for you, your hubby and his entire family during this difficult time.

We just found out last week that my Step-Mom has cancer. They're still trying to figure out where and how bad.

Thinking of you & sending you a big cyber hug! God bless xo

betty-NZ said...

Sorry for your loss. I will be praying.

Sandra said...

Thanks, friends.

Sue, I hope your step mom is able to fight this nasty disease and come through victorious.

Loren said...

I'm sorry to hear this, Sandra. You and your family are in my prayers.