Becoming HIS Tapestry

Christian Lifestyle Blogger

DEATH BELLS RING

Hey friends, how are you today? How was your week? We’ve had the best weather here, in my neck of the woods.  Our temperatures have consistently been on the rise throughout the week, with bright beautiful sunshine on each day. Today there are more birds in the backyard, in fact they seem to outnumber the squirrels and the trees begin to bud. If I listen closely, I can hear the sounds of a woodpecker in the background.  They remind me that life must be lived.

When I’m struck with situations I don’t like, I like to be quiet.  I like quietness around me because most times, my brain will not allow me to be quiet. In this case, memories start to pour in; the good, the bad and the very ugly and too many times, the ugly far outnumber the bad. My father (step father really) died yesterday.  Perhaps like too many people, I had a complex relationship with my dad.  My mom married my dad when I was two years old. He was all the father I knew, I called him ‘dad’.  He drove me to my prom and walked me down the aisle and prepared my wedding feast because my dad was a master chef. In the eyes of most people, whatever emotion I choose to exercise today, I would be justified in it.  If I choose bitterness, anger, wrath, perhaps even relief, understanding could be applied to my door.  If I choose sorrow and regret, sadness, that too would be greeted with understanding.  

Although all the memories crowd my brain, today I choose the good ones.  One of my fondest memories of my dad takes place in the very early part of my life. At that time, it was a frequent activity.  We would gather for devotions on the evenings; my dad, my mom, my brother and me, my sister was a baby at that time.  My dad would read the Bible, we would play a Bible game and my mom would help us to memorize our verse for the week.  Excitedly my brother and I would memorize our verse because we both knew my dad would have a treat for us if we said it word perfectly.  I also remember my dad consistently carried my brother on his neck as we walked home from church, he would pretend to be my brother’s horse, because my brother had just understood that legs were made for walking. An activity he was not at all sure, he enjoyed.   

Oh, what good times we had then.  Today, the clouds are thicker, but a brief glimpse of the sun can be seen through every break in the clouds.  Today reminds me that because my days are numbered, life must be lived.  Today also reminds me that life should never be lived carelessly, without thought for those around us, because memories are the legacy we leave behind.   Today tells me, it never matters what behaviors the world says is justifiable, I answer to the God of the Universe.  It is His Word that is final.  According to the Word of God, bitterness, anger, wrath should be put away from me.  Today reminds me, that God is God, God is Great, God is Good, and God is Merciful.  

Today death bells ring for my dad, my heart is sad and I grieve. How are you doing?

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71 responses to “DEATH BELLS RING”

  2. Brenda, I am so sorry for your loss. A big loss! God is so merciful and gracious over us no matter what we are going through. After I lost Kenneth, my husband of 25 years, I did not know how I would be. God did. He never left me and gave me Isaiah 54:5, reminding me that He is my Husband. Over time, the hard memories begin to diminish as the sweet ones surface and stay at the top longer. Yes, I miss him and always will, just as I still miss my Daddy who died when I was 12, Mama died 8 years ago. They are always in my heart. God will continue to weave you to look more and more like Christ as He walks with you and you with Him. I pray for you, sweet sister. Caring through Christ, ~ linda @Being Woven

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  17. I’m so sorry for your loss. Even now I have days when I miss my Grammie so much. On those days, I have to remind myself that I will see her again. I pray God’s peace and comfort encompasses you.

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  19. My heart goes out to you Brenda! May you find comfort through Jesus.
    I love what you said here:

    ‘Today, the clouds are thicker, but a brief glimpse of the sun can be seen through every break in the clouds.’
    Reminds me that there’s hope and light even in the miserable.

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  20. I can feel the bittersweetness in your words, Brenda. It is admirable how you choose to remember the good. May God comfort you and your family as you process the lose of your step-father.

    You are so right about the fact that life must be lived. We must also, “walk circumspectly,” as the apostle Paul said—living wisely because the days are evil.

    🙏❤️ prayers and love.

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  26. I’m so sorry for your loss and pray you are comforted in the “see you soon” that comes when two Christians part ways in this life. 💛 Thank you for sharing the beautiful memory and glimpse of the legacy your father left behind.

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  29. I am so sorry for your loss and will keep you in my prayers as you go through the stages of grief. I, too, had a complicated relationship with my father and when he died, I did not know whether or how to grieve. Even now, I find myself grieving his loss and choosing to think of the good times.

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