"Give me a kiss before I go." That was my friend's way of saying, "good bye," to her husband for 30 years, and last Sunday, as we prayed for her, and she asked us to let her go and be with Jesus, those were some of the last words she said to her husband. Not a permanent goodbye. Not a sad defeat. A joyous acknowledgement that her vacations were over, and for those of us who are still "on vacation," down here...enjoying life; working hard; doing what God puts in front of us to do until we make it back home, again, we gave her all our love and were there when she made it victoriously home. My friend, Doña Flora, was one of the most courageous women I have ever had the privilege to know. Filled with love; compassion; laughter; in spite of her pain, she always found a way to encourage those around her. Her words filled my heart, and her life left a legacy for those who knew her to fill. As I prepare to sign the papers on my counseling office, tonight, and pray for each month's $400 rent to come in, I'm reminded of her courage and her heartache, and how she encouraged me in my plans and reminded me daily of the need for there to be a place where the broken hearted could go, and rest, and spend time absorbing God's Presence and strength to go back out into the battle. For her, and for several others whose faces fill my heart, I'm moving forward in spite of my fears...I know God will meet each month's need, and that there will be at last a place where people can go to hear from God and to release the pain that comes from various circumstances. Her family...Cristian, Andrea, Rusbel, Don Rigo, and all her children and grandchildren are a testimony to me of what it means to love God, and to move forward with the dreams He's placed in our hearts, and of the importance of weeping with those who mourn and rejoicing with those who rejoice. This office building, a blessing from God, is in large part taking place because of their example, and will be in Doña Flora's memory who blessed my life and filled me with laughter, faith, and joy that words could never say. Thank you to her, and to her family, for being a living encouragement to me that God answers us when we call, and that He will answer me. May God bless you all. Thank you for your courage and your legacy.
- Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
- Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
- Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
- Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
