our loss...his gain!

I am writing to you as I sit beside the empty vessle of one of the greatest, kindest, and most amazing men I have ever had the honor of knowing...of loving...we...his family...have sat beside his bed for 3 days now...as he ran the last little bit of his race here on this earth...we have read scripture over him...prayed for him and sang to him...Scott even sang "power in the blood" Scott style for him last night...I didn't realize until it was almost to late that he truly was hearing us as we talked with him and whispered in his hear how precious he was to us! But last night I realized you could see his eyelids moving in response to use...when Scott came in last night he responded! Scott later left the room for a while and we were singing with him and we said Scott needed to sing power in the blood HIS way and thoses eyes responded...so we along with a few tears shed...we even had a giggle with him! Then in the wee hours of this morning...we sang a few last songs with him It is Well With my Soul...I have decided to Follow Jesus...and the last one..."Jesus Is Tenderly Calling"...and at the end of the song...our sweet Harold took his last breath...when Willie passed away a few months ago...we experinced what I would call a HOLY MOMENT...and this morning...I had the honor of being part of another one...to God be the Glory...in Harolds life and through his death...

as we wait...

We are all at the hospital waiting for Jesus to take another sweet one home...and we reminise...lots of memories...I can still see Harolds little red pickup setting outside Pleasant Grove Baptist Church...as he did what he loved to do...yard work...I remember thinking then as I just began to know this amazing man we called papa...how kind he is...he has loved Scott, my kids and myself as if we were his very own...I guess truth be told we are his...Michael would stand between JoNell and Harold in church and sing as loud as he could...(if he wasn't with them he was with maw maw!)...and when Katie came...she was his girl! I can only say how lucky thomas is that time changes things because there was a time when Katie was sure that after she grew up and married, she would still sleep between her mammy and papa and her husband could sleep beside their bed in the floor! That memory makes me smile so much! There was the time he let all the GA girls come crash in his and JoNells closet and have a slumber party...you know there aren't that many retired men who would have been OK with 12 little giggly girls and their leaders coming and crashing their house like that...but he did...with a smile the entire time! Lots of memories of birthday parties and easter egg coloring...proms and high school graduations...college graduations and weddings...babies...and Harold...like all the other grandparents was there...one of our constants...there were times I knew he was crying for our family and praying over us...as healing began to take place...times that he has looked at Scott with such admiration and pride...much like a dad would...times he has called me his girl... You know I've been blessed with 3 blessings in my life...and all three blessings have taught me so much about life...and those blessings...are my dads...my first dad...who has taught me about forgiveness and learning to appreciate another person you always thought would be there...and about not taking people always being there when you are ready for granted....then there was Tucker...the next blessing...who continues to teach me about loving like your own...I've giggled today about him finding a fence post under my car and keeping it secret so mom wouldn't KILL me! Or when he told me he couldn't give me away at my wedding b/c he understand the pain a father feels when someone else does it...that day is when I learned the character of the man my step dad was...greatness in my opinion...and then came Harold...out of the blue...a blessing I didn't expect but wouldn't trade for the world! Such a kind and gentle spirit he is! Today as I was driving to the hospital I was thinking he would soon meet the twins he and JoNell lost so many years ago...he gets to see them before her so I guess he can name them!!!! And I know he will give maw maw and willie a hug from Scott and I...and I know he will be in awe as he stands...for the rest of all eternity in the presence of Jesus... The pain we've felt this year continues to be immense...but I wouldn't trade any of those that have been in our lives and are gone now for anything...because we are better people because of each one of them...Brian, Jeremy, Poppa and Kathy...and now...as we wait for Harold to leave us too...I can say...I am a better person because I have had Harold Lawyer in my life for 25 plus years...as I sit by his bedside I think of this... Onward to the prize before us Soon His beauty we'll behold Soon the pearly gates will open We shall tread the streets of gold! When we all get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be when we all see Jesus We'll sing and shout the victory and JoNell reminded me of this song tonight: ...and then one day I'll cross that river I'll fight lifes final war with pain and then as death gives way to vi'tory I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives Because He lives I can face tomorrow Because He lives all fear is gone Because I know He holds the future And life is worth the living just because He lives... what a glorious thought for a sweet and gentle man...who I have no doubt will immediately hear these words...well done my good and faithful servant...