Saturday, August 30, 2008

Safe at Home

Around 2pm Eastern time today, Nancy went home to be with Jesus. At noon, she and Micah met on this earth when Josh and Anne brought him directly from the hospital to Keystone House. This seemed to be the last piece of the puzzle.

Chris, Leah, KJ, Marc Davis and I sat at her bed as she ended the journey. So, she heard stories of her life, Scripture, and singing during her last breaths. I was thankful that she "let us in" on those last moments, allowing me to keep my promise to her that she wouldn't be alone at the end.

I am also thankful that she who suffered much in secret, had so much support during these last months. She was often encouraged to know how many people prayed her through this journey.

Naturally, we ache, but we are thankful that she is now at the place where Real Life begins as Libby reminded me recently.

Finally, the last few months, she kept teaching us. She showed me how to live with faith when I first met her, she showed me how to die with faith during her last few miles home.

41 comments:

tea88 said...

I'm glad she's face to face with Jesus now. I miss her. I love you guys and am praying.
tk

Cindy Nore said...

Oh Dan and family, while I'm glad Nancy is finally Home and in the presence of Jesus, my heart is aching for all of you. I am praying with all the strength I have for each of you to be surrounded by love and comfort from God and family/friends. I will be praying for you today, next week, and in the months and years ahead. Though we have never met, I feel so priviledged that through your post you have allowed me to walk this journey with you and to share in the struggles and the victories that are part of letting go of a loved one. I am so glad Nancy and Micah shared some time together as he entered this world and Nancy left to wait for him and for all of you in a better place. I will be praying especially hard during the next few days, which I know will be exhausting. May God grant you strength and peace and comfort. With love - Cindy Nore

Procrastination said...

Prayers and tears shared with you. I thank you for letting us be a part of your journey so that we could continue to pray and support you. May love surround you.

Rob and Mary said...

I'm happy for Nancy because she is in paradise. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. But I'm sad for all of us who will miss her so much. I can still hear her comforting words, laughter and encouragement in my ears that we wont hear for a while...but someday. I'm weeping with you. Praying for you as you enter this new stage of grieving Macha family. You are loved. I pray you see His love even in this hard time.
Mary

joyce said...

All we can say is " We love you." And repeat what Wayne's Dad said on his deathbed with calm assurance, "God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!"
Wayne & Joyce Speer

CS said...

Dear Dan, KJ, Josh and Leah, the events of the last two weeks have unfolded so quickly, we don't know how you can process it all. We're glad for Nancy, too, as Talitha said, but we grieve for and with you guys.

Anonymous said...

I am very glad that she and Micah met, than she was able to go Home. I am saddend by her passing, but rejoice that this is not the end.Thank you Macha family, for allowing us to "walk" through the Nancy's journey alongside you with this blog.Love you all, and may God comfort you.

Mrs. Lorraine Smith said...

Thank you, THANK YOU, Dan, for sharing Nancy's and your journey with us. We weep with you, yet feel incredibly blessed to be allowed to mourn and rejoice with you.
As I've been logging on in the last few days, I've been singing the words to the the new song (introduced by the Lyons) that we are going to sing in worship tomorrow:
"In every trial and loss,
My hope is IN THE CROSS,
Where your compassions never fail.
So, more than watchmen for the morning,
I will wait for you, my God.
When my fears come with no warning, in Your Word I'll put my trust."
Our prayer is that our compassionate God will continue to walk beside you in the next steps of your journey.
Blessings,
Lorraine

Unknown said...

how kind of God to allow nancy to meet micah before she left, a lot of us were praying that this would happen.

we grieve along with you; she was and will continue to be an inspiration to me. it has been a privilege to have been - and continue to be - sharing in your journey.

you did not leave nancy's side, you loved her well, very well. and we, your friends, will be at your side when you need us.

love
judi

Mom said...

Love to you, Dan.. One day we'll all worship before the Throne together.. and Jesus will wipe away our tears.. We'll pray for you as you have the final details to take care of.. very hard time..

Becky and Johnny Long

Anonymous said...

I have been following your blog and I have been grateful for your words. Death never has an easy answer - it's the ending and beginning of life. It grieves GOD yet is the only way to enter into HIS presence. And so, we rejoice with you and mourn with you. I don't know how any of us would make it through these terribly difficult time without JESUS. Praise GOD for the beauty of your new grandson too. The beginning of a new life just as one ended. As you even mentioned --- HE GIVES AND TAKES AWAY...MY HEART WILL CHOOSE TO SAY, LORD BLESSED BE YOUR NAME! ---- andrew poe

Cognitive Dissonance said...

I thank you for your honesty and openess in this time. Tears of sadness and of joy are flowing even in my prayers.

A song that comes to my heart at this time...Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked come to Thee for dress,
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul I to the fountain fly,
Wash me Savior or I die.

Not the labor of my hands,
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save and Thou alone.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Could my tears forever flow?
Could my zeal no languor know?
These for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
In my hand no price I bring;
Simply to thy cross I cling.


Praying for your family. Eric

Charley said...

Preethy and I are praying for you all. Thank you for the great privilege of letting us share in the journey.

For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord. (I Th 4:16,17)

Love, Preethy and Charley

Jim Lovelady said...

May the God of all comfort wrap you in His embrace. Thank you for sharing her story with us. It has shown us more of what it means to have faith in all circumstances and trials. love, The Lovelady's

Ger said...

Brother, I am sad and glad. I thank God that He keeps His Promises. ( I will restore all of what the locusts have eaten away.) This I know He has done. Again You hold a huge place in my heart. I love you and am praying for you and Leah,Josh,and Karen. May God wrap His Big arms around you and hold you close to His breast.
Ger.

The Morginskys said...

we are so glad she got to meet micah. praying your whole family.

Anonymous said...

Adding an "amen" to the beautifully written sentiments above and sending our love to you and your family.
Ann and Beecher

Lynn said...

Nancy gave us so much during her life, and has given us the gift of watching what faith looks like as one faces death. And you too Dan.
Her desire to bring glory and honor to Jesus through this part of her journey certainly has come to pass. We will miss her so much, and love you Machas.
Lynn

Joel said...

Dear Dan, KJ, and family, thank you for sharing these days and your grief with us. We are praying for you, for God's comfort and strength in the next days. Love, Joel and Cindy.

Laura said...

Rejoicing that the Daughter is now with the Father, in perfect relationship with Him. But my heart is grieving for you, Dan, and I won't stop praying.

Laura Morgan

Anonymous said...

Dan and family,
Our hearts and prayers are with you. May the presence of Jesus be ever closer in these days.
With love, Carol and Daryl VanDyken

Anonymous said...

It doesn't seem like a week ago that Karen C and I spent a lovely hr talking with Nancy at Keystone House about our dogs, our love of art, our prayer group, and Jesus. She came the very alive and alert as we sang verses to God Is so Good ,adding verses as we went along that pertained to her life.
We will miss you Nancy
Love to all the Machas from the Powlisons

HappyAndersons said...

It's bitter sweet. It's so great to hear that she was able to meet Micah, so sad that's she's no longer with us.

I'm praying that The Lord carry each one of you as you process her home going. She's in safety, peace and before our Heavenly Father!!!

Much love, hugs and kisses,
Andrea

Mitch said...

May you find peace as Nancy now has. Prayer and love in the name of Christ.
Mitchell Green

Anonymous said...

Dear Dan,
We can't begin to understand how incredibly difficult it has been for you to watch your dear soulmate suffer pain and fade away from your side. It must feel like part of your heart left with her... But we know towards the end of her life, a deeper love even than the one that wanted to keep her here wanted her to be in Jesus' loving, healing, life-giving arms. We can appreciate that you are already mourning the loss of her presence in your lives and yet at the same time rejoicing that she is with her Lord. We hope & pray that you're able to remember her as she was at her best and cherish those memories forever, while seeing her perfect and whole in the Father's presence. We love you and are praying for you.
Rick & Wendy

Phil and Shanna said...

We are rejoicing and mourning. Praying for all you guys, Phil and Shanna

The Syvertsens said...

as we read this, church bells are ringing loudly outside our windows. it helps us to rejoice in nancy's homecoming, even as we mourn with you. praying for you - for rest, renewal, and the comfort that only the Lord can give. we will miss nancy's presence on earth immensely.

Joanna said...

We love you and we are with you in grief. And we will continue to pray for the Lord's sustaining arm for each of you.
Love the Stewarts

Anonymous said...

Dear Dan and family,
We send our love to you this day, asking for Jesus to come and wash you and dress you and kiss you as you move through the next hard steps. A year ago we said goodbye to Dad and the last steps were so sweet and hard as we listened to what others said about him and his life. We've read about how loved Nancy was in her community and we pray that your whole family will receive great comfort from the One who loved her best.
Much love from Kathy and John Hall

Karen said...

Dan and family,

We pray that God would give you a taste of the rest and comfort Nancy is experiencing, enveloped in Jesus' arms.

Love, The Massos

Unknown said...

We are mourning, rejoicing and praying for you now. We love you!
The Spauldings

ryan sutherland said...

Dear Machas,

It is so hard to hear this news from so far away. My last memories of Nancy were before the cancer and I am grateful that I remember her in a state of health. At the same time it is hard for me to rejoice since I saw none of her suffering.

Tears are filling my eyes as I prepare to preach this evening on the already/not yet of the resurrection and wondering how Nancy is already dancing in her resurrection body!

Please know that thoughts and prayers are with you from the west.

Ryan for the Sutherlands

Anonymous said...

I'm encouraged to read the loving supportive comments that your dear family/friends have posted... evidence that our faith and hope in a Sovereign Lord transends time and space... and our earthly bodies. What a hope we have in Christ to face death and still rejoice in our salvation. I long for the day when Jesus silences death forever and we will all partake in His victory! I will be praying (as many others are praying) for the Lord to be your comforter, your friend, your strength for the days ahead. We love you and will be here praying for you.
The Vorwalds

Anonymous said...

your family has filled my thoughts this past week and even yesterday, i keenly recall praying for you, taking hope in the reality that things are not as they will be...that eternity is near to us as children of our Father. i weep for your deep loss and rejoice in the knowledge that one day all things will be made new.

with love in our Savior Jesus,
amy hudson
b'ham, alabama

Anonymous said...

As I ache with you, I also praise with you. Thank you so much for sharing so much of your life, love and journey with us...so many strangers, who are now "family". I stand in awe of your love for each other, and the risen Savior. Nancy is truly "home". I know that she will be greatly missed, but please know that she has had an AMAZING impact during her time on earth. MUCH LOVE AND MANY PRAYERS. Jennifer in TN

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Dan, for allowing the rest of us to journey with you, and the fam, as you guys have loved Nancy well, fed our prayers, in these last months, weeks, days. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow. Much love, Dave and Jan McCarty

Rupert Cadell said...

Dan and family-

Together with all of these sisters and brothers, I'm glad that Nancy is whole and in great joy with Jesus. I'm also sad, and continue in prayer with and for you all.

Grace, peace, resurrection joy,
Aaron Baker

Rocks In My Dryer said...

Have been reading your journey for a few months--thank you for sharing Nancy's story with the rest of us. My prayers are with you and your family during such a heartbreaking time. May He pour out His love and peace on you.

Anonymous said...

We stand with you in the tears of indentifying with what you loss much feel like as well as relief of knowing that Nancy is released and safely home.

Hugs and prayers,
The Phillipses in Amsterdam

KevinandJD said...

Oh Dan,

We love you and are praying. It is hard to grasp the reality that Nancy has moved on... is dancing, is singing with her Lord. The gap she leaves here is big and achy. What a wonderful woman. We miss her.

Anonymous said...

So hard to hear about Nancy's passing... will be praying for you and grieving with you...

Mary Ann Carter