CELEBRATION OF LIFE >>> AFTER THE TEARS!
THE GARDEN (click here to view on Youtube)
Dear Lord, thank you for loving us. You are our Daddy, Abba, Father. We love you so much, Father, and we thank you that we can come boldly before Your throne of GRACE. Celebration of Life >>> AFTER THE TEARS! A time of reflection on a life lived for Jesus!
THE GARDEN is a song that touched my heart as it reminded me that God sees his children as a beautiful garden when He looks down from heaven. An oasis of beauty that God knows He will see in heaven when our purpose is complete.
This post is my testimony of how my LORD took me from sorrow from the loss of loved ones to joy knowing they are WALKING in heaven with Him.
[Psa 30:11 KJV] 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
It’s been several months since my last post, March 10th, 2024, when I announced my loss of my precious sister, Cathy Porter, Ms. Wheelchair MD 2007. The months between her entrance into heaven and her CELEBRATION OF LIFE has been a roller coaster of emotions. So many memories flooded my heart of the adventures we shared during her life. And for this sister, and family historian, many walks down memory lane as I prepared the display for her Celebration of Life.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE >>> AFTER THE TEARS!
God is GOOD ALL THE TIME, and ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD! (God is Not Dead movie)
The tears flowed like a river time and time again. Even though I knew she was in HEAVEN with Jesus and no longer in a bed or wheelchair, but WALKING WITH JESUS, her loss in my life was real. At times a thought of her turned on faucet of tears. It was emotionally difficult for me from March to June 1st.
During those months, The Holy Spirit spoke my name to many people to call and write me to provide comfort. And I thank GOD for those who responded. So many knew of Cathy, and some did not, but their words DID comfort me and helped me THROUGH that time in my life
Just to add a twist to the story, my sister’s best friend, sister in Christ and Ms. Wheelchair Senior MD 2013 – Sheila Whitaker, passed away a month+ later. Interesting fact > they would joke that they would go to heaven together. AND they almost did. She also had Cerebral Palsy. FOUR TABLES of scrapbooks, photo’s and memorabilia showcasing theirs lives as they shared their faith with the world!
PRECIOUS MEMORIES
CELEBRATION OF LIFE >>>AFTER THE TEARS JOY RETURNS
[Psa 30:11 KJV] 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
I share my story with you to remind you that sorrow doesn’t last forever. There is a time of mourning, but when the mourning is over, JOY DOES RETURN! I wondered many times how I would get though the CELEBRATION without tears. But God knew I could, and I DID!!!!!!!!
So many memories flood my thought as I write this story. And, as I look at the pictures of Cathy on the cover of her MY SISTER, MY HERO Cathy Porter, Ms. Wheelchair MD 2007 book (released 2009) I knew the time arrived to write her sequel. Her words to me, “When will you write my sequel?” came back to my memory. For years she asked that question, and my response was always the same, “It’s not time.” What I didn’t realize at that time, making that statement, was that the TIME would be after her Celebration of Life.
EVERYBODY HAS A TESTIMONY
THE GARDEN is a song that touched my heart as it reminded where those who know the LORD will spend eternity.
I am back to hearing THE HOLY SPIRIT’S still small voice telling me it is time and providing the words to write. JUST AS HE DID in the nine weeks from start to release for her book, and then the release at The World of Possibilities Expo in MD in 2009. It is time to write her sequel, My Sister My Hero Cathy Porter, Purpose, Lessons, Legacy! AND, back to writing for youwillwantto.com
Anyone who believes in the Son of God has a testimony in their heart. Once we accept Jesus into our heart, our testimony changes. We are no longer lost and alone for JESUS is always with us. As I wrote those words, I was reminded how my FAITH in JESUS and The Holy Spirit comforted me in my time of loss. TEARS … there were many. But they were tears of loss over losing a precious person in my life. But, because Jesus lives, I DID FACE THE TOMORROW after both of His children passed into the arms of their SAVIOR.
AND JOY … oh yeah, the joy returned at the Celebration. NO MORE TEARS, but just the JOY OF THE LORD was my strength. It was the closure I so desperately needed after a few very rough months of loss and memories.
[Neh 8:10 KJV] 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for [this] day [is] holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Everyone has a TESTIMONY; a story to tell. Life experiences that will comfort and encourage others to never give up on their dreams. And Cathy & Sheila were two ladies who never did.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE >>> AFTER THE TEARS!
THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE >>> AFTER THE TEARS! was exactly that! A CELEBRATION OF LIFE! >>> AFTER THE TEARS not a time of tears, but of joy and laughter as we shared the antics of Cathy and Sheila. It was hosted at The League for People with Disabilities in Baltimore, MD on June 1st. Family and friends gathered to share their stories with Cathy & Sheila.
THANK YOU JASON AND DUSTY, MY SONS, for driving 5 hours from VA to MD to serve the guests! THANK YOU > Juliette Rizzo, Ms. Wheelchair MD 2004 and Ms. Wheelchair America 2005 (THE CREATOR OF SISTERS OF THE CROWN >>> JULIETTE, CATHY, SHEILA > ALL OWNERS OF CROWNS, AND ME!) and Janice Jackson, Ms. Wheelchair MD 1993 and many who cruised with them, and many who attended events with them. Ms. Wheelchair America is a program that encourages ladies in wheelchairs to achieve their dreams. They are not disabled, but DIFFERANTLY ABLED.
AND THEN >>> THE GARDEN is a song that touched my heart
As I started to write this “return to writing” post for youwillwantto.com, The Holy Spirit led me to a SONG, as He always does, to showcase my post. And today, the song is THE GARDEN by Jimmy Scott.
- If tears could build a stairway
- And memories a lane
- We’d walk right up to heaven
- And bring you back again
- It broke our hearts to lose you
- But you did not go alone
- For part of us went with you
- The day God called you home
[Jhn 14:3 KJV] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.
- God looked around his garden
- And he found an empty place
- Then he looked down upon the earth
- And he saw your precious face
- He put his arms around you
- And he lifted you to rest
- God’s garden must be beautiful
- He always takes the best
- Yes, he always takes the best
YOU TOOK THEM UP TO HEAVEN
THE GARDEN is a song that touched my heart as it reminded where those who know the LORD will spend eternity with Him!
- We knew that you were suffering
- And, We knew you were in pain
- We knew you’d never get well
- On this earth again
- So he closed your weary eyes, and
- He whispered, “Peace be thine”
- Then he took you up to heaven
- So gentle, so kind
SORROW TURNED TO JOY
The Garden … a place of peace and tranquility. A place that reminds us of the beauty of heaven. Loss is part of life; but when we know JESUS, we know the joy of the Lord will return.
ETERNITY
IF you have not accepted Jesus into your heart, now it is the time. He is waiting to hear from you. In a moment, your life can change from a sinner to Christian!
OPEN YOUR HEART to your SAVIOR.
THANK YOU
Dear Lord, THANK YOU for giving comfort to those who have lost a loved one. You never promised us a forever life on this earth; but, you did promise us a FOREVER ETERNAL life in heaven with you once we accept You as our Lord and Savior.
THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE >>> AFTER THE TEARS! is a testimony of a loss turned to joy. THE GARDEN is a song that touched my heart as it reminded where those who know the LORD will spend eternity.
DEATH hurts the heart on this earth; I know that personally over the past few months. BUT TODAY, as I return to write this post, I have JOY in my heart as I IMAGINE Cathy and Sheila WALKING in heaven with with You.
While we are still on this earth, we are to share YOUR GOSPEL to those who are lost. Especially to those whom we want to see in HEAVEN. The devil is out to kill, steal and destroy the idea that HEAVEN is REAL. But because we are still alive, we have endless opportunities to share our JESUS with the lost. To share our testimony that JESUS IS REAL as is HEAVEN and HELL. JESUS gave us free choice to choose. Hallelujah and Amen, we chose JESUS!
AND… remember that when we lose a loved one, there should be a time to remember them as I remember Cathy and Sheila >>> THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE >>> AFTER THE TEARS! From personal experience, the JOY does return!
I have a brother, Jerry, who is still on earth. And since our era is passing quickly, these past few months have reminded me to cherish him more!
Take your GOS-PILLS today:
- BLESSED
- HEALTHY
- PROSPEROUS
[3Jo 1:2 KJV] 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER because JESUS prayed for us!
YOUWILLWANTTO.COM responds to PRAYER REQUEST
In the POWER and AUTHORITY in Jesus name. Hallelujah and Amen!
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