As they say in North Carolina, the visit of several members of the Home Hospice Team, was right much for Melvine.
Melvine received the members with a joyful and upbeat attitude. The nurse was amazed at how well Melvine appeared to her as she took her vital signs. She is Linda Zacker. She told us that she is the mother-in-law to Tracy Reynolds, who heads up the School of Christian Ministries at Emmanuel College. She is a delightful person, and Melvine enjoyed meeting her.
The Hospice chaplain came, a tech who will take care of Melvine's showers two days a week, and the social worker. We feel we are in good hands. We are grateful to God for providing this professional care group to help us in this season of our lives.
So, we got started today.
At one point during the day when we were not inundated with professionals, I asked Melvine if she would like to work on plans for her funeral. She immediately pushed back and said, "No, I don't want to talk about it. There is plenty of time to talk about it." I responded very gently by saying, "That's okay, we can talk about it later." I will need to contact the funeral home and go over the contract we have there. I do remember we purchased a modest casket. Melvine and I have never wanted to spend a lot of money on a casket that will be placed in the ground. We want what money we have to glorify God and be used to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course, we purchased a vault for the casket which is required by law.
I want Melvine to think about the people she wants to speak at her funeral and the one who will do the graveside committal service. She will need to name the singers and the songs she wants sung, and I hope a hymn or two of faith which the congregation will sing. I am confident she will want the funeral or memorial service to be conducted in Christian Life Worship Center, formerly called Tarkenton Memorial Pentecostal Holiness Church. She will need to name the pallbearers. Honorariums should be given to the ministers and musicians to show our gratitude for their ministry to our family.
I will work on the obituary and write it with Melvine's input. It should be clear, comprehensive, and fitting to honor Melvine in her death. We want it to be published in the Athens Banner Herald newspaper with her photo.
We were told by Melvine's oncologist, Dr. Jane Huang, a Chinese American medical doctor, that Melvine has only a few months to live, based on the objective data gained from her CAT Scan, the blood markers, and her vast experience in dealing with cancer patients.
However, I know God can turn this all around. He has the final Word. However, should Dr. Huang's prediction come true, we will love God, trust and obey Him.
One of my favorite hymns is "Trust and Obey."
1 When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
2 Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3 Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4 But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5 Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do;
Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Melvine received the members with a joyful and upbeat attitude. The nurse was amazed at how well Melvine appeared to her as she took her vital signs. She is Linda Zacker. She told us that she is the mother-in-law to Tracy Reynolds, who heads up the School of Christian Ministries at Emmanuel College. She is a delightful person, and Melvine enjoyed meeting her.
The Hospice chaplain came, a tech who will take care of Melvine's showers two days a week, and the social worker. We feel we are in good hands. We are grateful to God for providing this professional care group to help us in this season of our lives.
So, we got started today.
At one point during the day when we were not inundated with professionals, I asked Melvine if she would like to work on plans for her funeral. She immediately pushed back and said, "No, I don't want to talk about it. There is plenty of time to talk about it." I responded very gently by saying, "That's okay, we can talk about it later." I will need to contact the funeral home and go over the contract we have there. I do remember we purchased a modest casket. Melvine and I have never wanted to spend a lot of money on a casket that will be placed in the ground. We want what money we have to glorify God and be used to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course, we purchased a vault for the casket which is required by law.
I want Melvine to think about the people she wants to speak at her funeral and the one who will do the graveside committal service. She will need to name the singers and the songs she wants sung, and I hope a hymn or two of faith which the congregation will sing. I am confident she will want the funeral or memorial service to be conducted in Christian Life Worship Center, formerly called Tarkenton Memorial Pentecostal Holiness Church. She will need to name the pallbearers. Honorariums should be given to the ministers and musicians to show our gratitude for their ministry to our family.
I will work on the obituary and write it with Melvine's input. It should be clear, comprehensive, and fitting to honor Melvine in her death. We want it to be published in the Athens Banner Herald newspaper with her photo.
We were told by Melvine's oncologist, Dr. Jane Huang, a Chinese American medical doctor, that Melvine has only a few months to live, based on the objective data gained from her CAT Scan, the blood markers, and her vast experience in dealing with cancer patients.
However, I know God can turn this all around. He has the final Word. However, should Dr. Huang's prediction come true, we will love God, trust and obey Him.
One of my favorite hymns is "Trust and Obey."
1 When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
2 Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3 Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4 But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5 Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do;
Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.