Dear Lucy, Then Heaven...

sinceyou were suddenly called Home...May all of us who miss you sohonour your memory by loving wellthose still within our reach!💓🙏 Lucy loved flowers...esp. peonies!In her eulogy one of her children remembered her calling to themto come and stuff their face in a peony 'because you have not lived till you've stuffed your face in a peony!!' So Lucy, this peony-season each face-stuffing is in tender memory of you...💝💔 Won't you too, take time to stuff your face in a peony?!and when you do, thank God for your loved ones, pray for those mourning the loss of a loved oneand consider, if God should call you as suddenly as He called Lucynine months ago, if you are prepared to meet Himbecause you have received the gift of salvation when you believed in Him! This is one of the first verses our parents taught us to memorizeJohn 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. *** When Death, the Scythe that ceases Time, gathers a loved one beyond reachThen Heaven, once hope's distance clime becomes longing's uttermost roarWhere, though we stagger 'neath the weight of lessons love must ever teachWe turn our eyes toward a Gate that gleams far fairer than before When Death delivers Farewell's rift and stuns the grasp of mortal kenThen Heaven, once salvation's gift becomes sorrow's song, over-joyedAnd though our tears may flow, we know God's keeps His promises. AmenHe cheers us with strains of 'hello' wafting across yon, gaping void When Death reminds we who remain how small-swift-sacred is life's lease When earthly loss is Heaven's gain then Heaven suddenly draws nearCompelling us with humbler hearts to look upon the Prince of PeaceUntil faith turned to sight imparts the face of God and loved ones dear When Death, the Scythe that ceases time fells dust-to-dust's brief vestibule Then Heaven, once hope's distant clime draws grief to gaze beyond the graveOn He who gathers back the soul, who made Heaven's hope/Home possible Conquering death and hell for all who call on Him, Mighty To Save ~Janet Martin