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“Me and My Aunt Ciria—Alan and His Other Mother-Rest in Peace!” |
“I’m Just Sayin’”
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” – Psalm 116:15
We celebrate the life of my Aunt Ciria Bridges, who went to Heaven on September 3rd, 2011.
She loved the Lord with her whole heart, and our family rejoices that she is finally reunited with her husband Willard and family who have gone before.
If you are a Christian, I know you will share in our family’s celebration of her life well lived for the Lord.
Our prayers go out to my cousins Belinda and Willie, Ginger and Ken and Aunt Ciria’s great grandsons Awesome “Dawson” and “Fisher”-man.
I wrote this week’s column earlier this week, not knowing that…we had “the talk” just in time.
Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is have “the talk.”
Not “that” talk; “The” talk. You know…about letting go.
So letting go…not something I do easily.
Like preparing myself to let my Aunt go.
I know the logic of it all. She’s fought a good fight. She’s struggled with this pain on a daily basis. She’s put up a brave face for all of us.
But now, my 80 year old aunt is just tuckered out from the constant battle…she just wants to go home.
Not home to her old house on LaSalle Street in West Tampa. No….She wants to go “home!”
And who can blame her? We all know what’s waiting for her…heaven.
But…Leaving her family here, without her, is impossible for her.
Letting go of us is hard for her to do.
That’s why sometime, we have to love them enough to have “The Talk.”
I travelled 200+ miles in a four hour period this past Tuesday, just so I could have some quality time with my aunt…and have “The Talk.”
My wife and I left Orlando early afternoon and travelled to my cousin’s house outside of Tampa. My aunt has been struggling physically for the last several days. We all know what’s happening, but no one wants to talk about it.
Sometimes, the greatest gift you can give is recognizing the need to “talk” about the hard thing that everyone is avoiding-- talk about “leaving.”
I brought her favorite--a Frosty, chocolate and vanilla swirl. She hadn’t eaten much that day, but…she found a way to eat her frosty.
My cousin and my wife excused themselves and gave me some time with my aunt.
I sang her favorite hymn to her.
“I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses…
And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own; and the joy we share as we tarry there…none other has ever known!”
She sang part of it with me. She smiled that smile.
I shared my vision of heaven with her. I read her Psalm 23 “though I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”
Then I leaned in and whispered, “We’ll be okay—you’ve done a great job of taking care of us, but…now it’s time for us to take care of each other. We will watch over each other just like you did. We can do this…so you can go and enjoy your reward…for living a life for Christ!”
There—I said it; and she looked at me and said “thank you!”
She knew. I knew. It would soon be time; and it would be okay.
And she smiled and said, “thank you for my 80th birthday party—I loved every minute of it!”
I laughed, and I cried, and I said “see how many people love you?”
She said, “yes, I now do.”
I prayed for peace and calm and joy and love. I asked her if she was ready, whenever that would be, and she said, “I’m ready!”
I gave her a kiss on the cheek and asked her to do me a favor. “When you see my Mama, give her that kiss for me!”
She smiled and said, “I promise, I will!”
I kissed her and said, “I will see you soon!”
Because I know I will.
Until next time,
I’m Just Sayin’…
Brother “A”
by Alan P. Scaglione
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” – Psalm 116:15
We celebrate the life of my Aunt Ciria Bridges, who went to Heaven on September 3rd, 2011.
She loved the Lord with her whole heart, and our family rejoices that she is finally reunited with her husband Willard and family who have gone before.
If you are a Christian, I know you will share in our family’s celebration of her life well lived for the Lord.
Our prayers go out to my cousins Belinda and Willie, Ginger and Ken and Aunt Ciria’s great grandsons Awesome “Dawson” and “Fisher”-man.
I wrote this week’s column earlier this week, not knowing that…we had “the talk” just in time.
Here’s hoping you are just as fortunate—don’t wait... “now” may be your time to “talk!”
Aunt Ciria and her beloved husband Willard
……………………………………………………………………………………..
Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is have “the talk.”
Not “that” talk; “The” talk. You know…about letting go.
So letting go…not something I do easily.
Like preparing myself to let my Aunt go.
I know the logic of it all. She’s fought a good fight. She’s struggled with this pain on a daily basis. She’s put up a brave face for all of us.
But now, my 80 year old aunt is just tuckered out from the constant battle…she just wants to go home.
Not home to her old house on LaSalle Street in West Tampa. No….She wants to go “home!”
And who can blame her? We all know what’s waiting for her…heaven.
But…Leaving her family here, without her, is impossible for her.
Letting go of us is hard for her to do.
That’s why sometime, we have to love them enough to have “The Talk.”
I travelled 200+ miles in a four hour period this past Tuesday, just so I could have some quality time with my aunt…and have “The Talk.”
My wife and I left Orlando early afternoon and travelled to my cousin’s house outside of Tampa. My aunt has been struggling physically for the last several days. We all know what’s happening, but no one wants to talk about it.
Sometimes, the greatest gift you can give is recognizing the need to “talk” about the hard thing that everyone is avoiding-- talk about “leaving.”
I brought her favorite--a Frosty, chocolate and vanilla swirl. She hadn’t eaten much that day, but…she found a way to eat her frosty.
My cousin and my wife excused themselves and gave me some time with my aunt.
I sang her favorite hymn to her.
“I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses…
And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own; and the joy we share as we tarry there…none other has ever known!”
She sang part of it with me. She smiled that smile.
I shared my vision of heaven with her. I read her Psalm 23 “though I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”
Then I leaned in and whispered, “We’ll be okay—you’ve done a great job of taking care of us, but…now it’s time for us to take care of each other. We will watch over each other just like you did. We can do this…so you can go and enjoy your reward…for living a life for Christ!”
There—I said it; and she looked at me and said “thank you!”
She knew. I knew. It would soon be time; and it would be okay.
And she smiled and said, “thank you for my 80th birthday party—I loved every minute of it!”
I laughed, and I cried, and I said “see how many people love you?”
She said, “yes, I now do.”
I prayed for peace and calm and joy and love. I asked her if she was ready, whenever that would be, and she said, “I’m ready!”
I gave her a kiss on the cheek and asked her to do me a favor. “When you see my Mama, give her that kiss for me!”
She smiled and said, “I promise, I will!”
I kissed her and said, “I will see you soon!”
Because I know I will.
Until next time,
I’m Just Sayin’…
Brother “A”
Dearest Alan, rich in blessings your family has been to have Aunt Ciria. I had the same "Talk" with my Granny before she went to join Grandpa and be with her Lord and Savior...hard to do but so glad that I did and as with you the time was short after the talk. We celebrate Aunt Ciria life with you and your family and pray comfort and peace for your cousins and their families and friends as they let go.
ReplyDeleteLove
Suzann