My friend Teresa has passed from this life to the next.
"As for mortals, their days are like grass.
They flourish like the flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the Lord
is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children." [Psalm 103:15-17]
My thoughts today have been mixed: the sadness that comes with the loss of a friend, and the gladness that she is now beyond suffering, and safe in the arms of her Lord Jesus.
I have opened the ancient, somewhat tattered copy of The Pilgrim's Progress, an allegory written by John Bunyan in the 1600s, and gone to the last chapter, where Christiana and other pilgrims cross over the Jordan River, and into the promised land. Here are some brief excerpts:
When Christiana saw that her time was come, and that she was the first of this company to go over, she called for Mr Great-heart her guide, and told him how matters were. So he told her he was heartily glad of the news, and could have been glad had the post come for him. Then she bid that he should give advice on how things should be prepared for her journey. So he told her, saying, thus and thus it must be; and we that survive will accompany you to the river side.
Then she called for her children and gave them her blessing, and told them, that she yet read with comfort the mark that was set on their foreheads, and was glad to see them with her there, and that they had kept their garments so white.
...
[then she called for and spoke to Mr Valiant-for-truth, Mr Stand-fast, old Mr Honest, Mr Ready-to-halt, Mr Despondency and his daughter Much-afraid, Mr Feeble-mind ...]
Now the day drew on, that Christiana must be gone. So the road was full of people to see her take her journey. But, behold, all the banks beyond the river were full of horses and chariots, which were come down from above to accompany her to the city gate. So she came forth, entered the river, with a beckon of farewell to those that followed her to the river side. The last words that she was heard to say here, were, I come, Lord, to be with thee, and bless thee.
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