[A friend whose father was taken Home not long ago has sent this beautiful testimony to God’s goodness, and His sustaining power. We believe it will be a comfort and inspiration to many. ―ED.]
My sister, sitting beside dear father, in his last hours, wrote: “He cannot be long with us now as he is unconscious. No discomfort, very peaceful, just in a deep sleep. I feel he must soon be soaring through the tracts unknown, crossing the Bar, to meet his Pilot face to face, and to hear ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’ Little mother is so brave and composed and ready for the parting; they will soon meet again; how wonderful to think of them 55 years together yesterday. He said to mother: ‘It should be till death us re-unite, we won’t have time to miss one another.’ It is joy for dearest father. He said so over and over again. He wanted to go. He sent loving messages to you both, and thanks to us all, mentioning us all by name, ending with ‘Thank you, Jesus.’ Again he said, ‘Tell them all how good is the God we adore. Good-bye everybody.’ He has been so patient and sweet and loving, and has had no pain, and we are so thankful, only weakness. His greatly precious hymn has been ‘Safe in the arms of Jesus.’ He murmured ‘safe’ yesterday, and we know he is. So we must not grieve too much when he goes. I’m sure darling mother will be upheld by the everlasting arms. She loves the hymn ‘Our blest Redeemer, ‘ere He breathed His tender last farewell,’ and she repeated the whole hymn to me this morning and it comforted her.... At 2 p.m. darling father slept peacefully away.
“Till with my latest breath I rend the veil in twain,
By death I shall escape from death and life eternal gain.”
“We were all there, as the gentle breathing got softer and softer and then ceased. That was all.”
Our friend wrote saying, “Don’t say he has gone; say he has arrived.”
Another wrote, “The remembrance of Mr. R―is that of a radiant soul, shining for his Master.”
Another sister writes, “How dreadful to sorrow as those having no hope. It is the realization of the joy and happiness and peace of our dear father, who longed to meet his Saviour that comforts me so much, for I feel he must be very happy, and all life’s little difficulties and problems over for him now. It makes heaven seem nearer to know he is there waiting for us all, doesn’t it? He has been simply wonderful, never a grumble, so cheerful and pleased with everything. He was only really ill one week, and I think had no pain, passing away so peacefully. Underneath are the Everlasting Arms, and they are a loving Father’s, and I am sure they are upholding our dearest mother and all of us. I don’t know what we should do without that comfort.”
B. S. T.