Today
Thank you for praying for Wayne today. Yesterday, he was really struggling for breath and his breathing was labored. Today he is breathing steadily (for the most part) and easily. His breaths grow more shallow and his last avenues of communication -- slight head shaking and squeezing our hands-- seem now to be gone.
My parents and my lifelong friend, Lu Hoffman (whom Wayne jokingly refers to as "his second wife") came for a visit. Wayne loves my parents very much and they him. Just as he is a good husband, a good father, a good brother, a good son, a good uncle, a good brother-in-law, a good friend... he is also a good son-in-law. Wayne Dean is a good man.
We never leave him alone. Usually all of us are in his room, but always one of us is there. We feel blessed to be able to surround him and to see him free of tubes and needles. The day draws nearer when he will "sleep in heavenly peace." (Thank you, Julie Loos.) As my darling friend, Jeanne Parrott, commented recently, imagine the flurry of activity in Heaven as they prepare to welcome Wayne home.
Letting go is a very hard job.
My parents and my lifelong friend, Lu Hoffman (whom Wayne jokingly refers to as "his second wife") came for a visit. Wayne loves my parents very much and they him. Just as he is a good husband, a good father, a good brother, a good son, a good uncle, a good brother-in-law, a good friend... he is also a good son-in-law. Wayne Dean is a good man.
We never leave him alone. Usually all of us are in his room, but always one of us is there. We feel blessed to be able to surround him and to see him free of tubes and needles. The day draws nearer when he will "sleep in heavenly peace." (Thank you, Julie Loos.) As my darling friend, Jeanne Parrott, commented recently, imagine the flurry of activity in Heaven as they prepare to welcome Wayne home.
Letting go is a very hard job.
posted by Jennifer Kennedy Dean at 5:08 PM
3 Comments:
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." 2 Cor. 5:1-8
Having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Phil. 1:23
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Heb.12:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
Well done you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant, Wayne! Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which Your Master enjoys (Matt. 25:21 Amp.).
Dear Deans,
Billy Ray and I both had our SS classes pray this a.m. What a privilege!! Wayne certainly is a good man. As I've read the comments of others I have grown to realize that Wayne had a special gift of making each of us feel special -- almost like a favorite!!
I marvel at that ability. We have talked about him often as we have shared these days with you. Thank you for allowing us to do this.
We love you,
Delores and Billy Ray
i'm sitting with my dad at 5am towards the tail end of my "bedtime shift" and i just thought i'd share...i've been playing some music on my laptop and my dad will pat my hand, his leg, or his chest to keep the beat...it's not an incoherent tap, but one that tells me he is thoroughly enjoying "the david crowder band"...even though we haven't spoken words, my dad and i have connected this whole time and would both say that we've enjoyed each other as we lie in a bed that isn't near big enough for the two of us...but we are sitting here hand in hand as if we've been talking about the "good ole days" the whole time...that's the beauty of god...he transcends...the transcends time and space, and he transcends life and death...he transcends my dad's cancer so that we can enjoy each other and i thank him for that.
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