Here's Your Sign
So today, my family and I got some terrible news, a close friend of ours passed away overnight. Our family is of course devastated by this.
My blog has generally been about trips and experiences down life's highway. Mostly about the good times and trips we have spent with family. Occasionally I'll share a few life lessons I've learned along the way.
I'm typically not an outspoken person, but the blog allows me to convey what comes from my heart, and my heart is compelled to share this one with you.
Let's start off with a little about faith and me. My parents sent me to church. We didn't go as a family unit. I went with a neighbor. Dad was typically not feeling well on Sunday mornings after spending most of his day and night on Saturday at the local bar. I know he believed in god, but there were also demons that chased him through life. In his later years the alcohol and smoking took a toll on his body, he'd spend his Sunday mornings listening to Billy Graham on the TV. He would send him money that he couldn't really afford. Was he looking to literally pay for his previous sins, or was he looking for a sign from God that he saw him and was listening?
I think my Mom questioned whether in fact there was really a God at all. Especially in the early years of her life because of the abuse she and her twin sister had to endure at the hands of my grandfather. It's something she carried with her, and I'm sure she wondered why God would let such a thing happen. I myself only learned about it late in her life, well after grandpa had passed away. Mom's early signs of dementia and other mental health related issues began to give clues to what she had gone through as a child.
As I got older, I grew away from going to church, not that I stopped believing, but I didn't believe that I had to become a card-carrying church member to believe in God. I'd be lying if I told you I didn't ever question my faith. When Bad things happen to good people, it is enough to make you wonder if there is a God. I think we all spend our life looking for a sign.
I have a very small circle of friends. Some of those friendships have gone on for 45–50 years. We had plans to meet on the 22nd. With Jim, Karen, and Jan. Jim and Karen we've known for over 45 years. I worked with Jim many years ago, and we quickly became friends we have watched each other's kids and grandkids grow up. Jim and Karen were approaching their 50th wedding anniversary. Jan is a previous neighbor of ours who's husband was like a father to me. Unfortunately, Karen was not there that day, she was at home sick and told Jim to go anyway. Knowing Karen in her mind, she didn't want to pass it on to anybody else.
After our visit the next day, we learn that Jim had to take Karen to the hospital, she had gotten much worse. Pneumonia and Sepsis. Within a few days, she had to be placed on a ventilator. We were all praying for her. My family got together for Thanksgiving on Saturday the 29th. When we sat down for our Thanksgiving meal, we stopped to give thanks and to ask God to give Karen the strength to help her through this time. I tried but struggled with getting the words out because my emotions were getting the best of me.
The next morning, I'm sitting down with my morning cup of coffee and I begin scrolling through Facebook. There it was staring me in the face, it was a post by Karen dated Nov. 18th. No words, No comments, one heart from where someone liked the post. It was a picture of the clouds and the sun peeking through the clouds. Within the bright image of the sun was the silhouette of an angel.
I wondered at the time is this a sign of an angel looking over her or coming to take her home. Today I know.
I went back to Karen's Facebook page today to see if the post was still there. I couldn't find it! I screenshot the post the day I saw it. The picture is below.
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| R.I.P. dear friend, we are going to miss your quick-witted humor |
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| Labor Day 2025 |
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