Sisters and Memories
Tears and Laughter
By Barbara Jones
CHORUS
We all go through different things in life
We don’t know why and often cry
It sometimes feels too much, for you and I
We’re human and Christians and one day will die,
Unless Jesus comes back, and we’re changed in the blink of an eye.
Have you heard about “the Big C Word?”
I heard of it and for the first time, I had the thought “I could die!” Cancer??
It’s been ten years and I’m alive!!
My doctor said, for my six week checkup as he pointed his finger at me in 2015,
“People like you die!!
I said, “I’m a Christian, and God decides the time.
The death of his saints are precious in his sight.
He prefers his loving ones to live, but he sees what was and is and what will be,”
And called my daddy home at 50. (Psalm 116:15, Message Bible)
God spared him from all the coming heart ache and misery. (Isaiah 57:1-2, Message Bible)
When he calls, we leave our family on earth,
And we join the ones who left us to go live in eternity.
Mama slipped gently into the arms of Jesus in 2014.
The third night after my birthday.
“Thank you, God, she didn’t die on my birth night.”
What have you gone through wondering why?
Asked God not to take your loved one and cried?
Sometimes death is a blessing from God,
Life’s struggles and pains are gone for good.
We must let go, just love and be there.
It’s hard I know, I’ve been there,
The opposite is to be cold, just not care,
Even Jesus, as he was dying, told the thief, “Me and you together eternally.”
As I write and share because it might help
I have a sister who has mesothelioma, and needs help
Jesus did, asked God, wept about his own coming death.
I know I get support when anyone offers
To lend an ear and listen with compassion.
We are parts of Jesus body, the church,
Remember, he died and loved us so much
REPEAT CHORUS
My sister, Debbie, says she has a “chemo memory”
I’m saying, “I caught it from her. (Ha!! Ha!!)
I write ‘sticky notes” she got that from me,
Two brains are better than one, and from eyes to see. (Ha!! Ha!!)
Sunday night, we had sticky notes
To go to a Christmas Dinner at church,
As I was going down in the elevator to meet her,
She called, said “its pouring, bring a bag and umbrella!”
I went back up and was carrying a lot
Got the umbrella, picked up the bag, hurried out.
Went outside,opened the big golf umbrella,
Said, “Where’s the rain you were talking about?
She said, “Where’s the water, did you forget?
I said, “you interrupted my thoughts.”
I’ve got your Chemo memory without sticky notes!”
Mesothelioma is affecting us both. (Ha!! Ha!!)
Proverbs 17:22 Laughter is better than medicine.
My sister and I are very different sisters,
One lives here, one lives there,
One is taller than the other.
Two different outlooks on life, but both mothers.
Two very different visions from their windows,
Both have different tomorrows ahead,
Each is unique in what they planned,
Each has her own story to tell.
There are things going on that we’d rather not know.
This too shall pass is our motto.
Each sister has separate destinations planned.
Until a curve ball is thrown and we’re both knocked down.
As we enter 2025 in anticipation, questions and tribulations, let us each be thankful for the gifts of others that don’t cost a dime: love, time, little things only those who love and knows us thinks of…
© Barbara Jones 2024
Inspired by the end of 2024
In loving memory of our daddy, Russell Hale born 1/12/1930 -10/18/80
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