Death is not the end.
Growing up I spent a lot of time with my Nan. She was amazing but for as long as I had known her she had suffered from arthritis, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, her fingers bent, her knees swollen but always she had a smile on her face. She did the flowers at church and I used to go and help her when I was little. If ever I walk into a church now and smell the flowers, it reminds me of her.
She never complained, never got angry, a bit cross sometimes but only for the right reason, and always knew where I had put things, even if I didn’t. She was always there for me even when others weren’t.
Someone once said to me you are never truly gone until the last of the lives you have touched has gone, and my Nan’s life touched loads of people. In the end she was in a wheelchair and could hardly move but one look from her could scare even the biggest, strongest person and reduce them to tears. You didn’t mess with my Nan! She left such a legacy when she died.
I took my daughter to see her in the hospital and as Emily sat on Nan’s knee, they looked out of the window together, the moon was out. Nan quietly starred out of the window and as a peace came over her, she said to Emily, “…say ‘Night night moon’”. That was the last words she said to us.
We have just celebrated Easter. We bowed our heads on Good Friday to mourn the death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus and stood to shout our Alleluias on Easter Day. During Lent we might have reflected on the life of Jesus and what it meant, we have looked at his interaction with his Disciples, with the people, and with us. Of how Jesus connected through prayer with his Father in Heaven, and of how we connect with him now. What does his death and resurrection mean to us?
For me, it’s a time to reflect, to think about loved ones past and present, but funnily enough not to dwell in the past. I was recently offered some counselling following a serious health diagnosis. I have realised that yes, some stuff has happened, but it’s all made me who I am today. Do I really need to unpack it all again or do I need to move on and celebrate life, the life I have now in Jesus?
Jesus never complained, never got angry, a bit cross sometimes but only for the right reason, and always knew how we should live, even if we don’t. He is always there for us even when others aren’t, my Nan knew that.
Her favourite hymn was Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, with which I celebrate her life - and of course the life of Jesus - this Easter.
Sarah McGrory
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