This past week a dear friend of our family passed away. Mrs. Effie Beaird. She was like a gradma to me, and a best friend to my mom for 33 years. So needless to say, it was a tough week.
Monday was the day we got the news. We had been up there to see effie at the hospital the following friday and just had a gut feeling that she was ready to go to heaven. Mom and dad then spent most of the day saturday and sunday. We all were not ready to say goodbye. For she had been sick for several months and i guess just was ready to go home. She had valve surgery and her heart healed fine, but her other organs decided to shut down. We were all with her the day of her heart surgery, got to hug her, say i love you so we were thankful for that. For during her last two months, she could not talk cause she had to be on the breathing tubes. At first she could smile and respond, but the last couple days couldnt even do that. It was too sad for me to watch. The first time i went ot see her at the rehab place, she was so swollen she couldnt hardly fit in the bed. I was so shocked. I only stayed in there a minute and went out crying. I couldnt stand looking at her, the once strong solid women i had knew all my life, now lay helpless, swollen so large that it just broke my heart. The next time we went to see her in the hospital, where her daughter took her back to, the friday before she died i did the same thing. I couldnt make myself stay in there and look at her dying, it was just too much. Looking back i wish i could have been stronger to share those last days with her, but my heart just couldnt do it.
The monday she died, everytime moms phone ring we were just waiting. Waiting for the call to come that she had passed. Passed on the be with jesus. Thats the only reason we all made it through the last couple weeks. Knowing she was a very strong christian and she would be going to see her King. Like a wise friend of mine told me, its not goodbye, its see you later... For we will meet her again in the sky.
The funeral service was saturday. It was tough. But yet it was a great service. LIke the preacher said our flesh will be sad and missing her, yet our spirit rejoices cause we know shes in a better place. I can picture her clear as day, singing and rejoicing with our lord.
We will miss her smile, her words of encouragement and her presence. My mom said yesterday, Who am i to ride around with now. But yet, we know we will move on, and remember her for the wonderful lady she was. Our grandma. Our friend.
