"Safely Thro Another Week"

I can almost hear his voice.  His name was Lloyd Minnich and he led the singing at Glendale Community Church when I was a little girl.


"Safely thro' another week, God has bro’t us on our way;
Let us now a blessing seek, Waiting in His courts today:
Day of all the week the best, Soon will come eternal rest;
Day of all the week the best, Soon will come eternal rest."  (John Newton Safely Thro' Another Week; verse one)


This is the day my mother was due to arrive at JIA for a month long visit.  I had it all planned - today I was going to catch my breath from the hectic weeks that have preceded this weekend which included the Caregiver Expo at UNF - the whole reason I've had a part time/temporary job at Community Hospice - and get ready for her arrival.


You know however, that last Monday that all changed when our precious little Blakelie Foster Beck,  daughter of my niece, Leslie, died.


That last sentence will stick in my throat for a long time.


However. . .

The outpouring support that our family received has been incredible.  Words of comfort and sympathy; encouragement and understanding and acts of  love have blessed us beyond words.


This was a very busy week for me - all the final preparations for the Caregiver Expo.  My friends stepped in to help - grocery shopping for me personally as my mother was coming home four days ahead of schedule; picking up door prizes for the event; helping with a last minute project at Community Hospice. Not to mention - the Communications and Marketing staff at Hospice and the Bereavement Support team were wonderful.


My heart was heavy as we made our way to a visitation in Orlando.  Some of that was lifted for a while as I saw so many friends and family members.  I knew I couldn't go to Augusta for the interment.  I didn't think my mother could either.
However, my daughter, Becca had another thought.  She would take her grandma.


I cannot begin to tell you how much easier that made it for me to be at the Caregiver Expo yesterday. All day long as I was so involved - every now and then there would be a swell of sorrow that would sweep over me.  And I would just walk away from the crowd and take a moment to be sad and then be glad - for the blessings that have been poured out on us this past week.


When I remembered that song from my childhood, I googled it and found all four verses.  The last verse says:


"May Thy gospel’s joyful sound Conquer sinners, comfort saints;
May the fruits of grace abound, Bring relief to all complaints;"


That is what is happening.  We are being comforted.  God's grace is abounding.


Does it still hurt?  Rich Suhey has been gone for 16 years; my daddy has been gone for  more than four -- they still hurt.


So, yes.


And yet there is a peace that passes all understanding, something my parents taught us - at the same time that they were taking us to church every Sunday - that same church where we sang

"Safely thro' another week, God has bro’t us on our way...".

 .

When worlds collide

I had it all planned...


Since early December, I've been working on the Caregiver Expo that Community Hospice and the Caregivers Coalition of Northeast Florida will present on Saturday, April 26.


In late March, I received a writing assignment for Beson4 publications. I was to profile nine people who have had a strong association with the First Coast American Heart Association and write the introduction.  As the editor wrote, "this is a big 'assignment'".


That's okay I thought.  I can do it.  I just have to plan my time.


Oh and I forgot.  My mother was coming for a visit on April 27.


That was great.  My writing assignment would be done; the Caregiver Expo would be over.


I would have Sunday, April 27 to finish getting ready for my mother's arrival and be ready to meet her plane - relaxed and excited to have her here for the month of May.


And then on Monday, April 21 - something unimaginable happened.


I read these words on Facebook - "Pray for Blakelie - having emergency surgery to remove her spleen".  Blakelie, the adorable 4 year old child of my very special niece, Leslie.


And then a text from my sister, Cindy - "she is with Jesus".


Suddenly all the plans I had made were thrown to the wind.  I wanted to get in my car and drive to Orlando. 


And yet the responsibilities were still looming.


Writing, planning, preparing for my mother's arrival - four days ahead of schedule


I felt like my worlds were colliding


Wait - my worlds didn't collide.  They combined. 


How? Through family and friends who have responded - with words of comfort, acts of love, hugs of encouragement.


The writing assignment is complete; the Caregiver Expo will happen, my mother is here.


All is right in my world?  Nah


But I do have assurance that whether worlds collide or combine - it will ALL get done.


And although I'm not sure any one in our family or the circle of friends who are being there for us really believes this - at some point -like our daddy would say if he were here "everything's gonna be alright".


I'd just like to know when.