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For Every Thing...There is a Season

The week of March 25th, I mourned the loss of my dear paternal uncle, John Crabb Sr. and celebrated the birth and life of my maternal grandmother Helen Nelson. I remember the week before vividly, Tuesday, March 20th. It was around the noon hour when I had a sudden urge to pray for Uncle Johnny. I knew he was suffering and that hospice had been taking care of him and preparing him for his imminent death. As I began to pray for him, my own spirit was lifted, because though I could not be by his side physically, I knew I was saying my own good-bye spiritually. I prayed for peace in his heart and mind, rest for his body, strength for the family to let him go, forgiveness for his sins, mercy and for the Lord to welcome his spirit and to embrace him. I asked for a fear free transition and whatever he, Uncle Johnny, may need to pass on.

The morning when the phone rang shortly after 6a.m. I knew Uncle Johnny had passed away. I did not weep, and I was not grief stricken, for I knew he was leaving that week and I had prayed my good-bye. Instead, I thought back of fond memories and my heart went to my cousins John and Johnita, my dad and his siblings and Billy a son recently introduced to the family. And then I thought about the great celebration I was organizing for my grandmother. I had been working on her 100th birthday celebration for months and the big day was only a week away. It made me ponder how awesome life is.

I drove home to PA for Uncle Johnny's funeral services and we celebrated his life. I saw cousins I had not seen in years and we hugged and kissed. I held on to his twin Joanie and my dad, Donald. I looked around at the family there and thought about how special each and every one of us are, how glad I am to have them in my life.

Johnita and I shared an embrace after I viewed the body and there were no words necessary, the love between cousins, daughters of brothers, understanding her pain and knowing I too one day will experience the same, and she will comfort me.

The next day I shopped for decorations and picked up linens and arranged tables and chairs and went over final details for Helen's celebration. I had labored long and hard and there were highs and lows in the planning process. I was nervous and excited and worried all at the same time. Family were arriving from across the country and the mayor was going to pay special tribute and the senator and the news paper was coming and I wanted it all to go perfectly. My

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