Even when my Mother was in the midst of her cancer battle,
she was still a very joyful and thankful Christian lady. She
was saved as a young person, and she knew the Bible well; but
this particular passage of Scripture never meant so much as
when she was the one being brought the cup of cool water....
She typed out the passage and application and gave it to the
Oncology Ward at Citrus Memorial Hospital. She loved those dear
ladies, and she gave them this simple poem to show them a
little bit of how very much their ministering to her needs
meant to her.
In May of 1992, things were wrapping up for the spring camps at
THE WILDS, where I had been working since college graduation in
'88. I had plane tickets to go home Memorial Day weekend,
between spring and summer which is really the peak season at
camp. Momma and Daddy had been there visiting me at the camp after
Resurrection Son Day that year. Momma had played the organ for
her church cantata, a miracle considering the fact that
she was in the final stages of her cancer battle.
She and Daddy went home after visiting me in North Carolina,
just in time to see their first granddaughter born! Joanna Lee
arrived April 22nd, and Momma was in her element! But after
visiting my sister's home and seeing newborn Joanna, Momma told
Daddy that she had met the last hurdle.
Momma had been in and out of the hospital too many times to
remember in her 5 year cancer battle. She was admitted the final time the first
week in May. She spent Mothers' Day there, then came her 52nd
birthday. I had a care package that I was bringing down
Memorial Day weekend.
The Sunday afternoon before I was to fly home, Momma called me.
She sounded tired, asking, "What did you have for brunch?"
My first thought was, "the same thing we always have." Then I
remembered that she had been put on a liquid diet from bleeding
ulcers. She really wanted to know, to enjoy it vicariously. So
instead of saying, "the usual", I went into detail of the
spread of delicious fruits--strawberries and bananas, grapes
and melon--and of course biscuits and scrambled eggs and OJ and
all the things I knew she loved.
Three days later, I received a call from a member of our church.
"Come home now." Momma was already in a coma when I arrived
Wednesday. I kissed her cheek, did her nails for her, rubbed
her feet. The only thing I heard her say was when she came to
for a few seconds, sat up in bed, looked towards the empty doorway, and
said, "John?" That's my Daddy's name. But he was sitting beside
her. Momma's face bloomed with a look of pure joy and peace, and
she lay back down whispering, "Praise God!" until she drew her
last breath. We were singing to her, a whole roomful of friends
and family. We sang Just as I Am,
Amazing Grace,
Victory in Jesus; and just as the sky began to glow that
beautiful pinkish peach of a Florida sunset, I remembered her
favorite and began singing Rejoice in the LORD.
She went Home that sunset on Thursday the 28th of May...Ascension
Day 1992. As we left the room that night, the nurses at the desk
said, "She's gone Home." My brother and I nodded. They said,
"We knew she was going. There was just sort of a glow about the
room all day. It was beautiful."
I ended up getting a job there at CMH two years after Momma went
Home to be with the Lord. Every time I went up to second floor,
I was reminded of Momma. I was reminded that many of these same
ladies had been a blessing to her, and that I should seek to be
a blessing to them as well. One afternoon, I stopped in our
busy schedule and asked one of the ladies working at the
desk, "Ma'am, do you remember the lady who wrote this poem?"
Tears were immediately evident--not a common thing for the
job-toughened nurses who work the oncology floor.
"Oh, yes. I remember her," she said softly.
"My Momma wrote that."
Her eyes went huge. She knew me from the admitting office, not
from being "Joan's girl". *_* She immediately called another
lady or two over, telling them. I had been working at the
hospital for several months at that point, but my
appearance...and my spirit (namely the Holy Spirit that is in
me!) had reminded them of "someone" many times. Praise the
LORD!
Before I left the station, they were sharing stories and
smiles...just mentioning my Momma did that for
them...encouraged them. When I said goodbye, they thanked me. I
sincerely answered, pointing to the poem, "No. Thank you."
Patient to Caregivers
I was hungry, and you brought me a tray and fed me.
I was thirsty, and you gave me cool water to drink through a
straw.
I was a stranger and hurting, and you took me in.
I was cold, and you pulled my blankets up under my chin.
I was sick, and you comforted me and cared for me day and night.
I was confined, and you visited me; and you came whenever I
called.
Matthew Chapter 25
Verse 37 Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord,
when saw we Thee ahungered, and fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave
Thee drink?
Verse 38 When saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? Or
naked, and clothed Thee?
Verse 39 Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto
Thee?
Verse 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I
say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of
these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.
In appreciation to caregivers everywhere
for keeping this commandment of Christ
I dreamed I went to Heaven,
And You were there with me.
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea.
We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name.
You turned and saw this young man,
And he was smiling as he came.
And he said, "Friend you may not know me now,"
And then he said, "But wait,
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight;
And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start,
And one day when you said that prayer
I asked Jesus in my heart."
Thank you for giving to the Lord;
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord!
I am so glad you gave.
Then another man stood before you
And said, "Do you remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry.
You didn't have much money,
But you gave it anyway.
Jesus took the gift you gave,
And that's why I'm here today."
Thank you for giving to the Lord;
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord!
I am so glad you gave.
One by one they came
Far as the eye could see,
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity.
Little things that you had done,
Sacrifices made.
Unnoticed on the earth
In Heaven now proclaimed.
And I know up in Heaven
You're not supposed to cry;
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord.
He said, "My child look around you...
Great is your reward!"
Thank you for giving to the Lord;
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord!
I am so glad you gave.
I am so glad you gave.
THANK YOU, doctors, nurses, and all caregivers everywhere!!
Would you like to know how to have that "Peace that passes all understanding" like Momma had?
Then you need to know her Saviour
and claim Him as your own personal Saviour....
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Patient to the Caregivers 
