Yesterday morning we lost a friend that none of you know.  Brenda was a dear friend of mine who has prayed for me everyday for the last 15 yrs.  She was particularly concerned about my clusters, so she researched them so that she would know how to pray intelligently for my needs.  As a consequence I would share needs of many of you as you would mention them on here.  Especially whenever someone was being hit particularly hard.

This lady had plenty of health issues herself, cancer in a kidney, and the other one working only at fifty percent, breast cancer leading to the loss of both breasts, gout, irritable bowel and chrones (sp), diabetes, and a few other less serious, but constantly painful problems.  Rarely would she ever complain, but always wanted to know about how I was doing, and how you all were doing.  She taught me a lot obout how to deal with life's issues.

Those of you who pray, please remember her husband Don, and her daughter Annette, who cared for her for the last ten years, and her other daughter, Margaret.

James Weldon Johnson's great poem, "Go Down Death", comes to mind right now.  I wish I could quote it, but would mess it up.

Jerry

My heart goes out to her family, and to you... Prayers being said.

Here is the poem you spoke of:


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Go Down, Death                Weep not, weep not, She is not dead; She's resting in the bosom of Jesus. Heart-broken husband--weep no more; Grief-stricken son--weep no more; Left-lonesome daughter --weep no more; She only just gone home. Day before yesterday morning, God was looking down from his great, high heaven, Looking down on all his children, And his eye fell of Sister Caroline, Tossing on her bed of pain. And God's big heart was touched with pity, With the everlasting pity. And God sat back on his throne, And he commanded that tall, bright angel standing at his right hand: Call me Death! And that tall, bright angel cried in a voice That broke like a clap of thunder: Call Death!--Call Death! And the echo sounded down the streets of heaven Till it reached away back to that shadowy place, Where Death waits with his pale, white horses. And Death heard the summons, And he leaped on his fastest horse, Pale as a sheet in the moonlight. Up the golden street Death galloped, And the hooves of his horses struck fire from the gold, But they didn't make no sound. Up Death rode to the Great White Throne, And waited for God's command. And God said: Go down, Death, go down, Go down to Savannah, Georgia, Down in Yamacraw, And find Sister Caroline. She's borne the burden and heat of the day, She's labored long in my vineyard, And she's tired-- She's weary-- Do down, Death, and bring her to me. And Death didn't say a word, But he loosed the reins on his pale, white horse, And he clamped the spurs to his bloodless sides, And out and down he rode, Through heaven's pearly gates, Past suns and moons and stars; on Death rode, Leaving the lightning's flash behind; Straight down he came. While we were watching round her bed, She turned her eyes and looked away, She saw what we couldn't see; She saw Old Death.She saw Old Death Coming like a falling star. But Death didn't frighten Sister Caroline; He looked to her like a welcome friend. And she whispered to us: I'm going home, And she smiled and closed her eyes. And Death took her up like a baby, And she lay in his icy arms, But she didn't feel no chill. And death began to ride again-- Up beyond the evening star, Into the glittering light of glory, On to the Great White Throne. And there he laid Sister Caroline On the loving breast of Jesus. And Jesus took his own hand and wiped away her tears, And he smoothed the furrows from her face, And the angels sang a little song, And Jesus rocked her in his arms, And kept a-saying: Take your rest, Take your rest. Weep not--weep not, She is not dead; She's resting in the bosom of Jesus. James Weldon Johnson

Dear God, please watch out for this angel, and protect her family, left here to morn her passing ...

Quote:

She was particularly concerned about my clusters, so she researched them so that she would know how to pray intelligently for my needs.

Wow Jerry. There will be a special place in heaven for her I think.

Wow what a special friend to have known.  My deepest sympathies to you.

thank you, Jerry.  I will pray for Don, Annette, & Margaret. What a gift it was to know her, and thank you for sharing with us.

Charlotte

Oh Jerry, thank you for sharing this. It is so easy to get caught up in my own pain that I sometimes forget that there are special souls outside this family and my family that care...I am humbled. My prayers on the way for her, her family, AND you.

And Chuck, thank you for posting that incredible poem. I have never heard of it or the author, thank God ignorance is curable.

Regards

Jon

Quote:

Clusterville lost a friend yestyerday.

Yes they did.  Sounds like an amazing woman.  Would have loved meeting her.


Linda

Thank you, Jerry.

We did not know her in life, but she will be missed.

All the best,

George

My deepest sympathies to you and her family :'( :'(

Svenn

I'm so sorry Jerry, she was a great loss to all who knew her and all who didn't too. I'm glad I know of her now at least. As that poem says, she went home, as all angels do. It's comforting to know we have people like her in the world and thats one incredible legacy of love she has left us all.

My favourite poem and one I find a great comfort as well as helping make sense of stuff is this

With love to you
Helen

She is Gone

You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she’s gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she’d want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.


by David Harkins

Brenda was as true a friend as they come. So sorry. :'(

So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.  :'( Sympathies to you and to Brenda's family.

Carol

I am so sorry for your loss. Please know I am praying for you and all that loved her.

Condolences and more.
all the best
thebb

I am saddened and sorry for your loss. Peace be with you and all those that knew her.

Brenda was a good friend and I mourn her loss.  My sympathies to you and her family.

Ray

Prayers and sympathies to you and her family.  She sounds like she was a wonderful person.  I know heaven rejoices in her coming home!

Jeannie

You have my sincere codolences Jerry.

I'm so very sorry for your loss!!

hugs,
~mel

Very sorry for your loss and it looks that if anyone deserves some prayers, it's she.

Charlie

Sorry that you lost such a precious friend, Jerry.  Love you.

I am sorry for your loss jerry she sounds like a wonderful woman you was privlaged to call friend, I do not prey but my thoughts are with you and her family

Brian

Jerry,

I hope the pain of losing such a special friend is soon replaced with a smile when you think of Brenda.  Friends and supporters like her are true treasures.

It makes me happy knowing that you had someone like her in your life.  The love, caring and support you have given many here was returned to you via Brenda in a very special way......very cool indeed!

Please extend my sympathies to Don, Annette and Margaret.