Treasures in Heaven
One of my favorite scriptures is Mathew 6: 19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
My grandmother on my mother’s side was a wonderful Christian woman who struggled her whole life with one ailment after another. She had every surgery you could imagine, from heart by-pass, multiple knee surgeries and even brain surgery. She was in constant pain, but she loved to talk and have fellowship with anyone who would offer an ear. Her ailments didn’t slow her down one bit, until that fateful morning at the breakfast table where she had a stroke. Ma-maw struggled for several years with depression of not being able to talk or sing, and we struggled watching her. She could not share with us any more all the wonderful stories with her mouth, but she could still speak with her eyes. When anyone would come to see her, her eyes would light up and she wanted a hug. She loved people. It didn’t matter who you were, she just loved you because you were God’s child.
I have very fond memories when I was younger about both Ma-Maw and Pa-Paw. They owned and ran a dairy farm called Catclaw Dairy. But at the time Ma-Maw had here stroke, they were retired from the dairy and were living a good life. We couldn’t understand why Ma-Maw had to suffer, why didn’t God just take her home? Once we received word that time was drawing near, my family drove all night to San Angelo, Texas to join the rest of the family at the hospital. Ma-Maw was strong, she held on for a long time, long enough so everyone could say goodbye and give that one final hug.
After she passed, Pa-Paw asked my cousin Tonya and I to speak a few words at the funeral. I didn’t know where to begin, but I had my bible. I had started reading the bible more just that past summer. Looking back, I can see that God had been preparing me. I searched the scripture, looking for that perfect verse, and that’s when Mathew 6: 19-21 became apparent. I immediately penciled in Ma-Maw’s name in the margin of my bible.
Her heart was not filled with the things she owned, it was filled with the love for family and friends. My wife Christy remembers the first time they met. Christy got a big hug and knew right away she was family. Ma-Maw had that way of being like Jesus, you just always loved to be around her.
After she passed, one of the questions we had was answered: “why did God make her suffer for so long?” We learned Ma-Maw brought one of the ladies at the nursing home to know Jesus Christ, but she hadn’t spoken in probably 2 years or so!!! She led her to God with her eyes and her loving heart.
God’s word lives in each of us, even if we don’t know the right words to say, the Holy Spirit will guide us when it is time to lead one of His children back home.
Brad Rogers