Jeremiah 29:11 - "Scars In Heaven"

Three months ago at this time I was getting ready to go to the hospital for my last moments with my Rickey before they removed the vent. My heart was heavy yet I knew he was going to be with Jesus which gave me joy. I firmly believe there were two reasons God brought him into my life. One was to restore laughter and heal me after Doc's death. The second one was the most important. He restored my Rickey's walk with the Lord. We had many conversations about life and death. We shared hopes and dreams for the future. Within a short amount of time those hopes and dreams were ours together. I remember one night I shared Jeremiah 29:11 with him and talked about how important it was for us to allow God to be in every aspect of our life. He told me so many times how proud he was of my walk with the Lord and for the way I battle MS. He told me I was one of the strongest women he had ever known. Those words are ones I will hold close. I am thankful for the way God put my Daddy, Doc, and my Rickey into my life to love me. I am thankful for the way all three of them loved me well. Last night as I got in the car to come home from church the first song on the radio was "Scars In Heaven." Of course the tears fell. It is amazing how God had it be the first song when I got in the car to leave that last night before my Rickey passed and it was the first song the next morning when I left the hospital after he passed. This song has taken on such meaning in my life. It encourages me to know all three of my men are no longer suffering in their earthly bodies but are enjoying eternity with new bodies. At the hospital the last night my Rickey was on this earth I sang hymns, Christmas songs, etc. to him. This was one of the songs I sang for him as I prayed over him. I love the memories of us driving down the road and singing together. On one occasion even though we were seven hundred miles apart he played the mandolin and we sang "How Great Thou Art." I remember I was in the middle of town with my sunroof open. The sun was shining down on me but most importantly the Son was shining down on me. Oh how I miss those times. I do not understand the 'why?' of the situation but I am so thankful for the privilege to have my Rickey in my life for the time I did.

I know the road you walked was anything but easy
You picked up your share of scars along the way
Oh, but now you're standing in the sun, you've fought your fight and your race is run
The pain is all a million miles away

The only scars in heaven, they won't belong to me and you
There'll be no such thing as broken and all the old will be made new
And the thought that makes me smile now even as the tears fall down
Is that the only scars in heaven, yeah, are on the hands that hold you now

Yes! In the physical sense all three of my men had scars. They all had deep scars in the emotional sense too. But all of their scars are gone. Praise God! 

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the way You loved on me through my Daddy, Doc, and my Rickey! Thank You for the time I had with each of them! Lord, all three of them shared with me about how proud they were of me. I pray I make You proud. Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. I pray people will see/hear You instead of me. Lord, would You give Anna, Michael, Matt, and myself an extra hug today as we remember my Rickey's last day on earth. It is hard to believe it has been three months yet it seems like he has been gone forever. I pray for many who are grieving from the loss of a loved one. May You be so near to them. I also pray for those going through 'tough' days to have Your peace. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Tony and Madeline; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Mike; Norma Hall; Little Jensen who needs a heart; Sharon Sebolt and her Momma Shirley; Serena and her husband; some young ladies with anxiety; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a husband/father separated from his wife; Pastor Sam; Mary Lilley; Preacher Bill Watts; those with COVID either themselves or in their family; Carolynn's family; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Timmy; Pastor Todd's family; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Doug and Gay; Patty's daughter Tracy; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chrissy's cousins; Debbie's husband Kelly; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Patti Perkins; Tammie; Betty's friend in New York'; my friend diagnosed with mesothelioma; Dorothy's grandson; Little Ivy;  and my friend going through tests. I pray for: Jonathan whose mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor, the Long Family, Baby Henry, Christina and her family, and Karl Stein. I pray for all our military and their families to lean into Your strength. Thank You for being My Past, Present, and Future! Amen.