Are you ready for the rapture tonight? If you are a believing Christian, then, yes, you are!
But, is it going to happen? I'm "not feelin' it." But I don't really know because the book of Matthew tells us no one knows. And it also tells us that Jesus will return as a "thief in the night." Surely, everyone, believer and non-believer alike, knows about May 21 and the prediction that all Christians will be taken up into the sky to live forever with Jesus on that date. It's on TV and radio, the nightly news and billboards. I never saw a thief in the night come with so much prior publicity. But...shrug...maybe it will happen!
For me, I'll be so glad for that day. The only thing that will mar it is that so many of my loved ones do not have that personal relationship with Jesus, and if the Lord came back tonight, they would indeed be "left behind." But, that's their choice.
I did not intend to post on the rapture or "taking up" here just now, but that is what poured out of my heart. Now that I've obeyed God, I will post a couple of other things.
Two sad/happy losses to our Chiari and Christian family. The lovely, spritely Michelle McCollum has passed away. She died on May 18, I believe. Her son was born with Chiari, and her strong advocacy for his health issues led to many of us getting to know Michelle. What a gem of a person she is! Sadly, she was diagnosed with cancer several years ago and has been fighting such a battle ever since.
In and out of hospitals (the "in" days numbering much more than the "out" days, sad to say); at home being hooked to IV poles and other medication suspensing equipment.
I marveled as I watched her, through her emails and posts on the Christian support group, Healing Friends, supporting and encouraging on her son as he excelled in school athletics. She would drive him and other team members all over Texas, while, unseen, her body was challenging her at every turn.
Last year, her left leg was amputated. Infection raged through her body. She fought it all with grace and dignity and sharing with us her understandable human emotions.
We were shocked to hear she had passed to the other side! It seemed like she was doing somewhat better.
Michelle left behind her devoted husband, Brent, and 2 teenaged children, a son and a daughter. We miss you, sweetheart!
Last night, while searching for Michelle's Facebook page, my eye caught a post from Matt Harms. The topic of his post left no doubt: he was readying for his wife's services! What??? What happened to beautiful Becky??? I stayed up late as I searched FB and the web and read her obituary, and read all comments, pages and pages of them, on her FB page.
Becky Harms was 41. She died "at her home," the obit reads. Other than that, I do not know any more. I miss her so much.
Becky had her craniocervical fusion done at TCI at the same time I had my Tethered Cord surgery. She and Matt, two separate occasions, picked me up at JFK airport in NY and delivered me to their (and my) motel in Floral Park. We went out to eat one time together. Since Becky and I were both on the neuro floor at North Shore Hospital at the same time, I often toddled down the hall to her room to visit with her, and her husband Matt would come to my room and sit down and visit, often. Later, I learned from Becky that she had sent him down to check up on me. I was alone at the hospital for 3 days and those visits with Matt and Becky made me feel less alone.
A few times, we sat in each others' motel rooms and talked and talked. I remember her showing me her children's pics on her laptop (and I marveled at someone being able to show pics on a lap top screen far away from their home PC! Boy, how our technology has rushed along. That was back in 2008).
She loved horses and she and Matt had a farm full of them. Sadly, Chiari took away the horses and I could visit and relate with Becky about that. She had a movie star smile! A lovely, loud laugh. I recall her telling me that she used to be a bullrider before her life as a mom. she remains the only lady-bullrider I know.
Becky Harms, I miss you, but a huge part of me is envious of you right now. You no longer have pain. And you are most of all in the Arms of Jesus!! And when you are not holding onto our Lord, you are riding again, perhaps even some bulls along with the horses! I loved you and still do. I look forward to seeing you one day. Please have a good horse saddled up and waiting for me, okay?
