The time is at hand

Dean's daughter Debbie came to visit on Saturday. He dozed off several times, but was well aware that she was here and was able to converse a little. Sunday he rested contently and even asked for a little something to eat. He chose black bean soup and peach ice cream. He was even able to drink a little water without choking. Then late Sunday evening Dean started sounding congested. It was loose, but about every 5 minutes he would awake and cough.

This morning though he was still congested and we contacted the hospice nurse. She instructed us to start giving him some drops under his tongue that were delivered in the original 'care kit'. It is to help with the secretions that gather in his throat. I strolled down the road while making a few phone calls and by the time I returned, he was sounding much worse. Another call to hospice and the nurse said she would be out to check on him. I asked if this was the 'rattle' we were told to listen for and she confirmed it was. She said to start him on a tiny bit of liquid morphine every two hours to give him comfort and help with his breathing. She also said that it was more disconcerting for us to listen to his struggle, but that it was time to give him all the comfort measures we could.

So we each took a little private time with our beloved husband and father, and assured him we would be OK. He was able to respond and tell us he loved us. Then we started the morphine. I sang his favorite chorus to him and told him he would soon be with the Lord.

Within the veil, I now would come
Into the holiest place, to look upon Your face.
I see such beauty there
None other can compare.
I worship Thee O Lord
Within the veil.

We are taking turns sitting with him around the clock now. It goes beyond expression how absolutely wonderful it is to have the assurance of the One Who has undying love for us, Who chose to sacrifice Himself for us, Who died that we might live, and the confirmation of His Spirit within us that death has no sting; the grave has no victory over those who are in Christ Jesus.

"I have been crucified with Christ;
and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
Galatians 2:20