Together Again
Stories
Shining Moments
Visions Of The Holy In Ordinary Lives
Barbara Frank
We got married young. I guess you could say we grew up during our years together. It was a good marriage, and we had three wonderful sons. During our 23 years together we enjoyed each other and our life.
After a long illness, my husband passed away. When his life ended, it seemed as if mine did, as well. I had a difficult time in the years following his death. I was so afraid of forgetting all of our memories.
One night I had a dream. It was the first and only time I had a dream about him. I was entering the gates of heaven, and God said to me, "He has been waiting for you." I didn't need to know anything else. I awoke with a smile on my face.
This is not the life I planned, but with God's help, it is a good and fulfilling life. As much as I miss this wonderful man, I know God has chosen the best.
We will be together again!
Bonny Joy Bailey
My "big brothers," Jack and Harold, were eleven and eight years older than me. When I was born, they told my parents to name me Joy because I gave them so much. But, of course, they didn't know what it was like to have a little baby sister. Time passed and we all grew up and had families. We all lived in the same city for most of our lives. My brother, Harold, had to move to Arizona because he had asthma. My brother, Jack, stayed here and helped my mom after my dad passed away. He was there for me also, when I went through a divorce and was raising four children on my own. I knew he loved me.
My kids grew up and I had a good job, so I was doing well on my own. We were not as close as we got older, but I knew Jack was always there for me. Mom passed away, my brother, Harold, died and left a hole in my life, but I still had Jack, quiet, strong, helpful, and loving. He was the only original family member left.
Then Jack developed congestive heart failure and ended up in a nursing home, where he stayed for a couple of years. He hated being there and told me he wished he could let go. His memory started going. He was a policeman and was very unhappy to have lost control of his life. He had six children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When I got the call that he had been taken to the hospital and wasn't expected to live, I went to see him. He was unable to talk and just lay there. I told him I loved him and he should let go and go to God. Then I just sat there and held his hand.
On November 6, around 1:10 a.m., I got another phone call. My niece said the doctors did not expect Jack to make it through the night and if I wanted to see him one more time I should come right away. I thought about it and decided not to go. I went back to bed and lay there crying and asking God to be with him and his wife and all his children. While I lay there a feeling came over me. I felt a presence, as if I was being held and I knew it was my brother saying good-bye. I looked at the clock and saw that it was 2 a.m. Shortly after that, my niece called again to tell me he had died, but I already knew.
We got married young. I guess you could say we grew up during our years together. It was a good marriage, and we had three wonderful sons. During our 23 years together we enjoyed each other and our life.
After a long illness, my husband passed away. When his life ended, it seemed as if mine did, as well. I had a difficult time in the years following his death. I was so afraid of forgetting all of our memories.
One night I had a dream. It was the first and only time I had a dream about him. I was entering the gates of heaven, and God said to me, "He has been waiting for you." I didn't need to know anything else. I awoke with a smile on my face.
This is not the life I planned, but with God's help, it is a good and fulfilling life. As much as I miss this wonderful man, I know God has chosen the best.
We will be together again!
Bonny Joy Bailey
My "big brothers," Jack and Harold, were eleven and eight years older than me. When I was born, they told my parents to name me Joy because I gave them so much. But, of course, they didn't know what it was like to have a little baby sister. Time passed and we all grew up and had families. We all lived in the same city for most of our lives. My brother, Harold, had to move to Arizona because he had asthma. My brother, Jack, stayed here and helped my mom after my dad passed away. He was there for me also, when I went through a divorce and was raising four children on my own. I knew he loved me.
My kids grew up and I had a good job, so I was doing well on my own. We were not as close as we got older, but I knew Jack was always there for me. Mom passed away, my brother, Harold, died and left a hole in my life, but I still had Jack, quiet, strong, helpful, and loving. He was the only original family member left.
Then Jack developed congestive heart failure and ended up in a nursing home, where he stayed for a couple of years. He hated being there and told me he wished he could let go. His memory started going. He was a policeman and was very unhappy to have lost control of his life. He had six children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When I got the call that he had been taken to the hospital and wasn't expected to live, I went to see him. He was unable to talk and just lay there. I told him I loved him and he should let go and go to God. Then I just sat there and held his hand.
On November 6, around 1:10 a.m., I got another phone call. My niece said the doctors did not expect Jack to make it through the night and if I wanted to see him one more time I should come right away. I thought about it and decided not to go. I went back to bed and lay there crying and asking God to be with him and his wife and all his children. While I lay there a feeling came over me. I felt a presence, as if I was being held and I knew it was my brother saying good-bye. I looked at the clock and saw that it was 2 a.m. Shortly after that, my niece called again to tell me he had died, but I already knew.
