Ornamental Cherry Tree

Dear devotionalsjust4u!! Friends,

In my Easter letter I told you that my husband, George, was not expected to live very long. My sincere thanks to so many who wrote messages of encouragement and memories. I was able to read some of them to George. I appreciate your love. Here is the next part of the story. In the week before Easter, there had been a gradual deterioration in George’s health and on Thursday the words came to me, “His feet are on the threshold”, and I knew what the Lord was meaning.

Saturday 11th April, it was clear that George was soon going. In the afternoon his eyes slowly followed if we looked closely at his face. One time he gazed at one place in the corner as though he was seeing something — perhaps angels? Then at 5.21 pm George’s feet crossed over into a better place in a triumphant, peaceful passing. No distress or pain, the sun streaming in through the window, our Ornamental Cherry tree in full bloom could be seen from his window, at home and no hospital. God had done all we had prayed for! We accompanied him as far as we could, but afterwards it was into the arms of Jesus, and that is now for all Eternity!

Because of the present global situation we can have just a very small group of family at the graveside, which will be our son and his family and me, with our minister, then later, a memorial/life celebration. Our local church and many friends are praying and supporting me from a distance. How wonderful is the Family of God! I so appreciate all your love and prayers, also the Sympathy cards which are now coming. The Lord is comforting me. There is still work for me to do, a new season all round.

Trusting you all had a blessed Passover, and are not finding the lockdown too difficult. Many people are finding new ways of blessing and encouraging people at this time. A group of friends from a church in Germany where we used to belong, go out every evening onto the street and sing and play guitars. In honour of George they sang a beautiful song by Horatio Spafford, one of his favourites.

Horatio, a Christian businessman, had lost a 4 year old son and his fortune. Thinking a vacation would do his family some good, he sent his wife and four daughters to England, planning to join them after he finished some pressing business at home. However, while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship was involved in a collision and sunk. More than 200 people lost their lives, including all four of Horatio’s precious daughters. His wife, Anna, survived the tragedy. Upon arriving in England, she sent a telegram to her husband that began: “Saved alone. What shall I do?”

Horatio immediately set sail for England. At one point, the captain, aware of the tragedy that had struck the Spafford family, summoned Horatio to tell him that they were now passing over the spot where the shipwreck had occurred. As Horatio thought about his daughters, words of comfort and hope filled his heart and mind. He wrote them down, and they have since become a well-beloved hymn. Here is the first verse:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Dear Friends, you may have situations which you find difficult at the moment, but when we stretch out a hand in our darkness, there is always a strong hand to grasp it, that of our precious Saviour, Jesus. He will cause all things to be well with you, too!

My love and blessings to you,

Helen Jesze