Angels — Those Amazing Ministering Spirits

Hebrews 1:14

¹⁴ Aren’t all the angels ministering spirits who are sent to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?

When I was nine months pregnant with my firstborn child, my beloved Papaw was taken suddenly and unexpectedly from our family. It was October — almost Halloween. My due date was fast approaching. Papaw already knew the baby’s name was “Jay.” He had seen my belly grow. He had felt him move. He had visited me when at 32 weeks I was put on bed rest. He almost got a face-to-face meeting with my little James Bryson. My Papaw was an amazing man — an angel, some would say. He was a minister to many. I always like to think of him as a sort of “Paul” who ministered and encouraged so many Christians. The day of his passing, he had volunteered all day working on our church’s building expansion project. He had attended Monday night Bible study that evening and then after a series of mini-strokes, an ER visit, and TPA infusion (treatment), he suffered a major brain bleed and went home to be with Jesus shortly after 5 the next morning. Exactly seven days after my Papaw’s passing, God’s little gift to our family finally made his debut in the world. Baby Jay did so much to lift the spirits of not only myself, but also of my Mother and my dear, sweet Mamaw. He was like a little angel sent to minister to our hearts and lift our spirits after such a heartbreaking loss. Yes, our world had changed completely over the span of one week’s events.

Life without Papaw was different for everyone, but we all adjusted. My Mom became the master gardener of the family and with my Dad’s help, raised a garden that would even compete with the finest of gardens that my sweet Papaw had raised. My parents moved their sleeping quarters to my Mamaw’s house. You see, Mamaw had multiple hip replacement surgeries throughout the years and at the time of Papaw’s passing was confined to a power chair. However, she remained amazingly independent in that motorized chair that we liked to refer to as her “Cadillac.” My Mom, however shifted roles immensely during this time. Not only did she and my dad begin sleeping at Mamaw’s house, but she became much of a caregiver to my Mamaw. Though Mamaw remained independent in spirit and in many daily tasks, there were simply a host of physical tasks that she was unable to do for herself. My Mom was her little guardian angel — always thinking ahead about what Mamaw might need and putting her own needs aside.

Fast forward four and a half years, and my parents now call my grandparents’ little house on the hill “home.” My Mom has enjoyed doting over her mother, fixing her hair,doing her grocery shopping, washing her clothes, cooking her meals, and Mamaw has certainly loved the attention. Their lives became so intertwined that Mom didn’t go anywhere or do anything without first considering my Mamaw. After the recent and sudden passing of our dear cousin Pat, my family (Matt, myself, our boys, Bethany, Shane, their kids, and Mom, Dad, and Mamaw) all traveled to Ohio for the visitation and funeral services. Following the Saturday morning funeral, the family gathered at a restaurant for a luncheon. Mamaw enjoyed her lunch with family, and immediately following the meal, she suffered a sudden stroke, much like my Papaw. She was quickly transported via ambulance to the ER at Fairfield Mercy Hospital. Despite the best of care and hopeful efforts of the stroke team doctor who, like a true angel even wept with us during this time, Mamaw also suffered a massive brain bleed following TPA treatment — exactly like my Papaw. Thankfully, we (her immediate family — including her brother, also named Jay) were there with her and were able to spend time with her in her last alert moments. She was able to recognize each and every one of us (Mom, Dad, Bethany, Me, and her baby brother, Jay) before becoming unresponsive. Following a transport back to Pikeville and three days in Pikeville Medical Center, my sweet Mamaw Mary went home to be with Jesus.

While her sudden sickness and passing is heartbreaking to me, it is also an amazing testimony. Recently, Mamaw expressed that she was hopeful that God would take her quickly just like He had taken my Papaw. Amazingly, our God is that merciful. She was treated for the stroke in a hospital called “MERCY.” And — God’s mercy is exactly what she experienced. You see, even though she remained pleasant, sweet, thoughtful, and kind, I know that Mamaw never truly stopped grieving for her sweetheart and husband of 60 years. For four and a half years, she lived life seemingly contently and tried not to be a burden to anyone. However, I know that the yearning of her heart was to go on to be with her sweetheart in GLORY. How merciful and faithful our God is to have known this desire of her heart and to have taken her peacefully on to Heaven. Oh, how sweet their reunion must have been on Wednesday (the day after what would have been my Papaw’s 89th birthday). My heart is full just imagining that moment.

In dealing with my children throughout this experience, especially my inquisitive four and a half-year-old, Jay, it has been eye opening at how much a little one truly understands. Little Jonah (almost 2) was able to vocalize that Mamaw Damron was sleeping. And I have stood in awe at my very articulate Jay as he has processed, questioned, grieved, and even rejoiced in Mamaw Damron’s escape from this earth into Gloryland. Over and again, he has asked, “Why did Mamaw Damron die? Does this mean that I’m not going to see her anymore? Is she not going to talk to me anymore? What is going to happen if Jesus comes back? What will happen to me if Jesus doesn’t come back first?” He is learning — and grieving. Three times since Wednesday, he has broken down in tears as he is coming to the realization that we will not be enjoying Mamaw’s sweet hugs and kisses anymore in this life. I explained to Jay yesterday that Mamaw Damron was able to walk, run, jump, and even dance now in heaven because she has a new body. I explained that we would get to see her sleeping body at the funeral home, but that Mamaw Damron feels so much better in Heaven than she did here on Earth. His immediate next comment, “Mom, does God have a swimming pool so Mamaw Damron can swim in Heaven?!?” And he followed that with, “Is she finally with her sweetheart, Papaw Damron now?” Tonight we were greeted by hundreds of friends at the funeral home as one by one, each paid their respects to the family and shared fond memories of my sweet Mamaw. Each visitor held a special place in my heart and ministered so much to my spirit. I felt the entire room was full of angels, each doing exactly what he or she could to comfort my family. After six hours, exhausted, I drove home with my children this evening and Jay’s mind went to work again, “Mom, why did Mamaw Damron have on new skin?” I explained that she was wearing her same skin, but she had on some makeup, but she would have a new body in Heaven. His next words: “Well, I didn’t see very many cracks or wrinkles in her skin.” I explained that Mamaw Damron had very beautiful skin for age 86. Then he asked, “Will she have a new voice in Heaven, too? Because she couldn’t talk to me anymore.” To that, I simply said, I don’t really know, but he can ask God someday. He moved on to his next topic: “Mom, If Mamaw Damron is in Heaven, and we are going to go there with her someday, how are we going to get to visit her? I don’t see a ladder anywhere….and there isn’t a rope. So, how are we going to get there to see her?” I explained that we would live our lives for Jesus and some day the Holy Spirit would take us there, too, just like he took Mamaw Damron there. Then his thoughts turned to this “Holy Spirit” I had mentioned. We had talked about it before. “Mom, is the Holy Spirit the #1 God, the #2 God, or the #3 God?” He was referring to a previous discussion about God, the Trinity. So I answered that the Holy Spirit is who lives in us when we belong to Christ. He helps to comfort us and helps us to know what is best to do, but God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are really all just One BIG God. That seemed to satisfy him on that question for now. Then as we finally pulled in our driveway, he said, “Mom, I’m really proud of you for not crying tonight. You did a really great job.” My heart melted. He clearly was not watching me or with me all evening because I certainly had moments of tears, but how amazing it is to know that my little angel understands the grief my heart is feeling; He is feeling it, too; And he is rejoicing with me, that Mamaw Damron is resting in the sweet peace of a merciful Savior.

I am thankful that God has surrounded me with my own personal “angels” at the passing of each of my grandparents. Yes, our Heavenly Father understands exactly what we need — and He is able to provide comfort like no other. Even in grief, I have been blessed.

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

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