Farewell at the threshold of eternity
A final gathering at the table where the gold of heaven had already begun to shine.
Frail in body, unbroken in spirit
A final visit
We had already prayed a great deal for her and her husband before the day dawned when we were allowed to visit her. We looked forward to it and at the same time dreaded it. We knew this would be our last time together. For years we had been visiting them. We ate together, we laughed, and we prayed. We reflected on life, faith, and the things that truly matter. She is very dear to our hearts. After all, love speaks in the present tense, even as farewell approaches.
She sat on the other side of the table, more than a meter away. A hug wasn’t possible as we were used to, because she is too vulnerable to infections. We sat there facing each other at a distance. That space felt like a chasm and a precious moment all at once. We looked at her, she looked at us, and all four of us knew what this visit meant.
A small miracle
Her voice sounded softer and her body looked more fragile. What she shared, however, conveyed a strength that transcended her physical condition. She spoke of her final weeks in the hospital and of the man in the bed next to her. This Muslim man was anxious and afraid. He strictly adhered to the commandments of his own faith, yet in his distress, he allowed her to pray for him. That was a small miracle there among the hospital beds.
She also spoke of a Jewish woman in the same ward. This woman felt great fear regarding the events in the world and the fate of her people. They spoke to one another honestly, person to person, without any pressure or coercion. The woman asked if she knew of Christians for Israel. She certainly did. In that brief conversation, a spark of hope and connection arose.
Certainty
This is how she testified: frail in body, but unbroken in spirit. Together we opened the Bible to Psalm 24. Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD, and who may stand in His holy place? For her, that was no longer a question, but a promise. She knew that her heart and hands were pure. Not because she never made mistakes, but because the blood of Jesus washed away every stain. She knew where she was going. That certainty radiated from her, and it was stronger than the fear.
We prayed together, we read together, and then it was over. On the way back, we said little. There is little to say after such an encounter. We remember her as she sat there: a loving woman surrounded by her husband and children, her memories, and her faith. She encouraged others in her final weeks. She continued to sow even in the hospital, knowing she would not see the harvest herself.
Her testimony continues to resonate even after she is gone. It echoes in our hearts, in the heart of the man who was distressed, and in that of the fearful woman.
“This was another day with a silver lining,” she often said to her husband and children when, despite her weakness, she was able to take a very short walk in her beautiful garden. Even on the difficult days, they kept repeating that. That silver lining never disappears. This final meeting was also such a moment for us when the gold of heaven was already visible.
“Yesterday, March 19, our dear friend, surrounded by her husband and children, passed away peacefully into the arms of her Lord.”
@wimvanputten