The Love of God

I knew the day would be drawing near for Karen to join her best friend, Carol, in Heaven.  As I listened to the voicemail message she left me, it became more real that it would be sooner rather than later – and my heart began to hurt.  It seems the doctors have done all they can do to treat her cancer ridden body.  Cancer has now consumed her bones and has spread in the form of tumors all throughout her body.

Even though she lives over 800 miles away, God’s timing is always perfect, and I was able to visit with her one week after receiving this very sad news.  I knew it would probably be the last time I saw her before she leaves this world. 

When I arrived at her home, she was sitting on the far end of the sofa.  I gave her a big hug and sat down next to her, and Hannah, my daughter, sat beside me.  It was the three of us on the sofa together having a conversation.  She told us about her reaction while in the doctor’s office when he shared the devastating news that there was nothing further he could do for her.  She said upon hearing this, she waved her hands up toward Heaven and said “Praise the Lord.”  She is now wheelchair bound, in the care of Hospice nurses, and is being visited frequently by those who love her.  Her doctor has given her a remaining life span of six months.  In response to this news, she has made it very clear that she is not afraid to die.  After all, “Why would I be afraid of meeting my SAVIOR?” she asked.

She shared with Hannah some funny stories of my childhood and it touched my heart when she mentioned how much she enjoyed brushing my hair as a little girl, since she had no little girls of her own.  As I looked over and saw Hannah’s eyes filled with tears, I felt prompted to make two requests of my mom’s best friend.  I grabbed her hands in mine and with a very cracked voice requested that when she gets to Heaven  1.  Please let my mom know that I can still feel the touch of her hands in mine and 2.  Could she ask God on my behalf to somehow show me the sweet “best friend” reunion that will take place when Karen arrives to the city where the soul never dies.  While I was in tears, she on the other hand, in a very matter- of- fact way clarified my requests and then said, “I’ve got it darlin’.”

Knowing that one of her sweetest gifts is her singing voice, I needed to know her favorite song.   While she said it was difficult to pinpoint just one song, it would have to be The Love of God.  And she began to share the words--

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky

She told the history of the hymn and pointed out that the words were found on the wall of a patient’s room in an insane asylum after he had been carried to his grave.  I’ll never forget the smile on her face or the belly laugh she let out when she said, “If this person was crazy, I want to be crazy too!” 

I owe Karen a debt of gratitude for her beautiful words at my mother’s funeral. Their friendship truly is a friendship made in Heaven. http://morninggloriesbypambullard.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-friendship-made-in-heaven.html

Only God knows the amount of time Karen has left here on earth.  One thing is for sure - there is no doubt about where she is headed.

… and that her heart is filled with the crazy love of God.

Hallelujah.
 

Link to: The Love of God - version by Mercy Me