It started last Wednesday afternoon, when Amanda received a text that her 45 year old aunt, Cindy Green, was put into ICU. She had only been diagnosed with cancer less than 5 weeks before. Now they were saying she may not live through a test that was necessary. Amanda, and her sister Ashley, headed to St. Louis. They were with her and the family for her final days. She passed early Friday morning. Amanda returned to Kentucky and we all went to MO to be with family. We spent the weekend grieving, helping, and preparing. The sorrow and grief on her husband and family was tremendous. Over 816 came to the visitation service held in the elementary school gym. Cindy was a beloved school counselor, farmer’s wife, and one of the most energetic, smiling, beautiful, and engaging persons you will ever meet. She was so hard-working and packed 80 years of living into her short 45 years.
During the visitation I set and talked to Bruce and Melanie Hays for about 10 minutes. They had come to support the family, especially their daughter-in-law, Ashley and son Wes. They left and went to meet some other family members who were heading to Branson for a girl’s trip. Bruce was returning to Kentucky to work.
We woke on Monday morning and were emotionally and physically preparing for Cindy’s funeral when we learned tragic news. Melanie Hays and her mother Shirley Philips (Wes’ mother and grandmother) were killed in a car accident on their way to Branson. Others in the van were seriously hurt. It felt unbelievable. It seemed like the scene from Job when sorrow is just piled on top of sorrow. We prepared their necessities, and I drove Wes and Ashley to meet some of his family in Dexter who were heading to Springfield.
At 4 p.m. we celebrated the life of Cindy Green in a very appropriate, moving, and special funeral service. We received updates from the family about the injured through the day.
On Tuesday morning we headed to Springfield. We spent the day with the Hays family at the hospital. They are a great and faithful family with seven children. But it was all so sorrowful, being with them in their great grief and concern for the hurting. Their was a hole as wide as Texas through the heart of their home. We were missing and trying to wrap our own minds around the fact that Melanie and Shirley were gone to heaven, never to walk this earthly sod again. We had to stop by Wal-Mart and buy cloths for Valerie, the 10 year old daughter of Bruce and Melanie. She was being released and needed cloths. It was sad, doing the job a mom does. Knowing Melanie, we should have gone to Goodwill or bought off the discount rack, because she was a deal finder! I could just see Melanie there with us. It was so sad, realizing she was gone and her husband and children must go on without her.
On Wednesday we returned home to Mayfield. We gathered with our church family, prayed, and worshipped.
It had only been a week. . .
Oh how a week can change decades.
Oh how a week can change heaven’s role.
Oh how a week can bring unbelievable sorrow, loss, and confusion.
Oh how a week seemed to change everything, yet the King is still on His Throne. One day he will change it all and set everything right. It will not take him a week, only a moment, like the twinkling of an eye.
Oh how a week makes life seem so fragile, vain, and uncertain.
Oh how a week reminds us of our great enemy — death.
Oh how a week has caused us to long and look forward to the return of Jesus.
Join me today and especially this next week in prayer for these families. The Green family, the Hays family, the Phillips family, and Dillingham family.
Natalie, the 18 year old daughter is still in critical condition in ICU in Springfield. Angie and Emma Dillingham are still in the hospital, but both are improving and doing much better. The family will conduct funeral services on Thursday and Saturday for their losses.
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