The thing most of us fear more than death is a prolong illness with dependence on other people. I know from lying in the bed of affliction for extended periods of time that your thoughts are of those you love and care about more than yourself. I remember the first time I came to death’s door I held on to life knowing that I did not make arrangements for my final expenses. I was too embarrassed to die, too scared to leave the legacy of how I had lived. It’s even more difficult when you have to witness the sacrifices of those who must care for you and to realize beyond the words, who the people are that truly love you and to what extent. To witness others capitalize on your misfortune and adversity as if you are not wise enough to know what they are doing. Yet often God keeps people around for a long time and it’s often difficult to tell why.

I heard the other day for the first time that tradition hold that Moses would sometimes use his rod as a walking stick. At the beginning of his walk one would hardly expect Moses to need a walking aid especially when one considers Joshua and Caleb who refused to age because of purpose. Yet on the other hand God seem to keep us around in weakness for a long time. The journey home is often a long winding trip. I learned from Moses life that God does not want us to end our lives in failure. If I got a miracle from God because of unfinished business it must have been true in me too. I have always believed that for those of us called according to his purpose there is only one conclusion for our lives. All things do work together for our good and hopefully his glory.

We have the power to lay down our lives at the time of our choosing.  Yet we are allowed by God in his infinite mercy and love to lay our lives down as over comers or in the process of overcoming. Moses could still climb a high mountain in full strength to view the promise land on the Eve of his death though not allowed to go in. It was God’s way of giving him victory over the anger battle which plagued him all of his life. In refusing to get upset over God’s denial of his entry into the promise land he died in victory. We know from all that have been written following his passing he would get there in time. As a down payment he gets to welcome Messiah on the mount of transfiguration in the land that was denied him. His experience with the Godhead and Elijah came about simply because he chose to die in victory.

When we endure the hardship of the narrow road to which we are assigned to become over comers, then our passing, like Moses is not goodbye but so long.  When we let go of all that we desire, to see our children to destiny and virtue, our spouses to their potential or even the homes we long desire in the pursuit of victory, then our passing is a promise of a better and more excellent state. So as we celebrate the home going of our dear Sister First Lady Tammy Carter. Let us remember these three years of faith in the face of overwhelming pressure. Let us remember the hope that lay upon her heart, the zeal she had for life despite the confines of her chair. Let us remember the family she cherished, the sons for whom she prayed, the daughters she adopted, and the husband clinging to her side. Let us please remember the wisdom of her counsel, the friendship of which she alone was capable and most of all her struggle to please her Savior and King. Let us remember that her passing is not goodbye but so long. It’s just a thought!
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In loving memory of Tammy Carter our beloved Sister who went to be with her Heavenly Father and Her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit on May 20th 2010. Take your rest loving friend until we see you again in the morning.

EF

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