THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

When Oom Hein called me on Tuesday evening, I could not actually gauge the seriousness of Tante Anne’s condition. But, when he mentioned that she was in ICU, I began to sense that it was far more serious than I originally thought. Surrounded by her family, Tante Anne slipped into eternity at 3:05 am the next day, Wednesday, the day she usually attended our Bible Study and Prayer Meeting.THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

When Oom Hein called me on Tuesday evening, I could not actually gauge the seriousness of Tante Anne’s condition. But, when he mentioned that she was in ICU, I began to sense that it was far more serious than I originally thought. Surrounded by her family, Tante Anne slipped into eternity at 3:05 am the next day, Wednesday, the day she usually attended our Bible Study and Prayer Meeting.

Right before she went into a deep coma, Tante Anne was still able to respond. When we sang, “Day By Day and with Each Passing Moment,”—the song she last sang in our church two Sundays ago—right away she raised her hands. And, so did she, when we sang, “I Live for You Alone,” which is Oom Hein’s favorite hymn. And, she continued to raise her hands when we sang other songs and read the Scripture to her, as if she was singing along with us and saying “Amen” to the Word of God. Until, she finally stopped and slept.

The past few years—as she often shared in our Prayer Meeting—had been a period of spiritual awakening. She was learning—and playing and singing—more and more Christian songs. When asked, she was always readily available to play the keyboard. And, she was always happy to bring food to the Wednesday’s Bible Study. She was simply full of joy—from knowing and serving Christ, Her Savior.

Tante Anne repeatedly assured me, “I am ready.” She prayed for healing but she also prayed for God’s will, which included leaving this earthly life for her eternal home in glory. C. S. Lewis calls this earthly life as only “a cover and the title page,” while life with Jesus after death, as “the beginning of Chapter One of the Great Story . . . which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.” Keeping on singing—and dancing—for Jesus, Tante Anne!

Pastor Paul

Right before she went into a deep coma, Tante Anne was still able to respond. When we sang, “Day By Day and with Each Passing Moment,”—the song she last sang in our church two Sundays ago—right away she raised her hands. And, so did she, when we sang, “I Live for You Alone,” which is Oom Hein’s favorite hymn. And, she continued to raise her hands when we sang other songs and read the Scripture to her, as if she was singing along with us and saying “Amen” to the Word of God. Until, she finally stopped and slept.

The past few years—as she often shared in our Prayer Meeting—had been a period of spiritual awakening. She was learning—and playing and singing—more and more Christian songs. When asked, she was always readily available to play the keyboard. And, she was always happy to bring food to the Wednesday’s Bible Study. She was simply full of joy—from knowing and serving Christ, Her Savior.

Tante Anne repeatedly assured me, “I am ready.” She prayed for healing but she also prayed for God’s will, which included leaving this earthly life for her eternal home in glory. C. S. Lewis calls this earthly life as only “a cover and the title page,” while life with Jesus after death, as “the beginning of Chapter One of the Great Story . . . which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.” Keeping on singing—and dancing—for Jesus, Tante Anne!

Pastor Paul