One minute she was there; the next minute she was gone.
Those are the words that keep going through my head as I type these words—some 15 hours after my dear, precious wife of 38 years was suddenly whisked away to her Home in Heaven. She was getting ready for Sunday morning worship, not knowing that she’d be worshipping in a different place later that day and finally getting to meet her Savior face-to-Face.
Oh how I miss her.
I first met her at a Kroger store in my hometown in central Arkansas. She was a checker in one of the check-out lanes and I remember thinking how pretty she was the first time I saw her. And, as I’ve been prone to say through the years, “She checked me out and I checked her out.”
Ours wasn’t the perfect marriage; but, then I’ve yet to see one that is.
Like any other couple we had our ups-and-downs, joys-and-sorrows, disagreements, etc. But, I can honestly say through all those years we never had a knockdown, drag-out fight. We’d get a little flustered with each other at times and even be angry for a while, but it wasn’t long until we were making up, asking forgiveness from one another and moving on.
That’s partly how you can stay married for 38 years. But, it especially takes mutual faith in the One Who brought you together. And, both of us knew it was the Heavenly Father.
He led us together. He kept us together. And through the years our love for Him and each other grew deeper. Even while spending 10 years overseas in the Philippines, along with our three sons, we knew God’s Hand was upon us, guiding us each step of the way—even during a coup de tat, volcanic eruption, numerous typhoons and earthquakes and a terrible flashflood in 1991 that killed over 8,000 people in our city in less than two hours.
Yes, Margaret Bruce Smith was a special person with a servant’s heart. She was the quiet type, preferring to be seen, but not heard. If there was a job to do, she quickly pitched in to get it done. And, anytime I had to go off on a trip somewhere, I always knew she’d keep the home fires burning and everything would be in tiptop shape when I came home.
To me, she was the epitome of Proverbs 31:10-31, which begins by asking “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” And, then, in v.30 Solomon adds “Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain—but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”
What an apt description of this 5’2” hard-working country girl who gave birth to our three sons and helped teach them the meaning of hard work, integrity and surrendered service to the Lord Jesus Christ.
When I came home from worship and found her lifeless body lying in the floor, I wept and wept. I cried out to God. And, even though many, many people came by the house to offer comfort and prayers, I realized anew that the only One Who can truly comfort a broken heart is the One Whose Heart was also broken that day at Calvary.
Even as I write these words in the wee hours of the morning, I feel His Presence right here beside me. I hear Him whispering words of peace and assurance to me, reminding me that she’s okay—she’s with Him and one of these days I’ll see her again.
Thank You, Lord Jesus.
That still doesn’t mean the time between now and then won’t be difficult. Everywhere I look around the house I see reminders of her: Special knickknacks. Her beloved flowers. Her cookbooks. Her sidekick, Samson, her little dog. And, I’m sure after the funeral’s over and everyone’s gone home that the reality of it all will sink in.
But, how thankful I am for the blessed Hope of “a Place prepared” and a glad Reunion Day. By faith and God’s sufficient Grace I’ll continue to press forward “looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith” (Hebrews 12:2a). Here’s hoping you will, too. God bless you. Thank you for your prayers.
January 11, 2012)
