resting in peace

my uncle Billy died this morning. he's my mom's uncle (her dad's bro). he was in his late 70s and had been ill for some time.

this past weekend, his kidneys began to fail and he never recovered. he had been in the hospital unconscious since Monday.

and though we were praying and knowing that even in the gravest of circumstances, God can cause miraculous things to occur, we were thankful for God's hand of mercy, that uncle B was sleeping and not awake in agony.

i firmly believe that in these past few days of unconsciousness, the Lord was speaking to his spirit. i wasn't very close to my uncle so i don't really know what his relationship with God was like, or if he had one at all. but i do believe that when people are in an unconscious state for awhile before they finally slip away, that God can and does speak to them, even though we can't see or hear Him.

i pray that while uncle B was sleeping, that he was having conversations with God, being reconciled with the Father. and i'm so thankful and grateful for God's mercy, that He quieted uncle Billy's body to sleep, so that he wasn't in any pain as his body wound down. he drifted away quietly early this morning before sunrise, prayerfully being held in the arms of our Lord.

my tears are mainly for my mom who is hurting right now, and for my Aunt, uncle B's wife, who has lost her husband and friend of decades. i can't imagine the emptiness and loss one must feel to lose a partner that you've had by your side practically all of your life. my heart hurts for her. and my cousin, who has to say goodbye to her daddy, and her son who has lost his grandpa.

thank you Father for catching our tears in Your merciful hands. may Your peace be with our family and may uncle B's soul rest firmly Your grip.