It has been exactly one year ago, January 17, 2020, on Friday, that Melvine breathed her last breath as I said the hardest words to say, "Goodbye."
Now, I didn't say it that way. I could see she was dying of a recurrence of ovarian cancer. Bonnie Bender, a retired nurse and a dear friend of ours, was with us until the end. She was administering liquid Morphine to kill the increasing pain in her body.
I drew near her bedside in our bedroom. Once again, I told her how much I loved her, and cherished almost 60 years of marriage. I had courted Melvine for three years before we were married on Saturday, August 13, 1960, in the Draper Pentecostal Holiness Church in Eden, NC. I told her that I would be eternally grateful that God had given her to me to be my wife. We were both faithful to each other all those many years. I loved her with all my heart, soul, mind, and body. I had to practice what I had taught and preached over the years. I told Melvine that I sensed the end of her earthly life was drawing to a close, and I didn't want her to hang on to life because of me. Then, I released her soul and spirit into the hands of God, and her head and face moved to her left side toward me, and she breathed her last breath. She was gone. Her body was there, but she went immediately into the presence of God. That is what the Scriptures tell us, and I believe it and do not doubt it. The Apostle Paul wrote these words in 2 Corinthians 5:
2 Corinthians 5:7-8
For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
NKJV
It is my belief that Melvine has seen Jesus and will be with Him forevermore, and has been reunited with our children who preceded her in death, her parents, her sister, and other loved ones and friends. She is enjoying the pleasures of unending joy and delight in her new home in heaven.
Retired Air Force Chaplain, Major General, Lorraine K. Potter, the first woman Chief of Air Force Chaplains, wrote this the other day in a lovely greeting card with a hand-written message: "Melvine was small in stature, but large in spirit--she filled the room with smiles and laughter."
The writer of the Book of Proverbs says it best when describing his mother and I would like to apply it to Melvine:
Proverbs 31:10-12 Melvine was a wife of noble character which means courageous according to Professor Paul Oxley, retired from Emmanuel College.
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
NIV
So, on this first anniversary of her death, I honor my bride and wife once again who has brought good to me all the days of her long and fruitful life. I will always love Melvine. She was the joy of my life, and a confidant of unequaled loyalty, love, and faithfulness.
I will see Melvine again in heaven. I long to go there when God determines my departure from this life to glory.
Now, I didn't say it that way. I could see she was dying of a recurrence of ovarian cancer. Bonnie Bender, a retired nurse and a dear friend of ours, was with us until the end. She was administering liquid Morphine to kill the increasing pain in her body.
I drew near her bedside in our bedroom. Once again, I told her how much I loved her, and cherished almost 60 years of marriage. I had courted Melvine for three years before we were married on Saturday, August 13, 1960, in the Draper Pentecostal Holiness Church in Eden, NC. I told her that I would be eternally grateful that God had given her to me to be my wife. We were both faithful to each other all those many years. I loved her with all my heart, soul, mind, and body. I had to practice what I had taught and preached over the years. I told Melvine that I sensed the end of her earthly life was drawing to a close, and I didn't want her to hang on to life because of me. Then, I released her soul and spirit into the hands of God, and her head and face moved to her left side toward me, and she breathed her last breath. She was gone. Her body was there, but she went immediately into the presence of God. That is what the Scriptures tell us, and I believe it and do not doubt it. The Apostle Paul wrote these words in 2 Corinthians 5:
2 Corinthians 5:7-8
For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
NKJV
It is my belief that Melvine has seen Jesus and will be with Him forevermore, and has been reunited with our children who preceded her in death, her parents, her sister, and other loved ones and friends. She is enjoying the pleasures of unending joy and delight in her new home in heaven.
Retired Air Force Chaplain, Major General, Lorraine K. Potter, the first woman Chief of Air Force Chaplains, wrote this the other day in a lovely greeting card with a hand-written message: "Melvine was small in stature, but large in spirit--she filled the room with smiles and laughter."
The writer of the Book of Proverbs says it best when describing his mother and I would like to apply it to Melvine:
Proverbs 31:10-12 Melvine was a wife of noble character which means courageous according to Professor Paul Oxley, retired from Emmanuel College.
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
NIV
So, on this first anniversary of her death, I honor my bride and wife once again who has brought good to me all the days of her long and fruitful life. I will always love Melvine. She was the joy of my life, and a confidant of unequaled loyalty, love, and faithfulness.
I will see Melvine again in heaven. I long to go there when God determines my departure from this life to glory.