A Legacy of Grace

As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  Philippians 1:21

You can't be at Redemption Hill more than 29 minutes or so without meeting Matt and Betty Bristol.  Somewhat like the wise and gentle mama and papa of our church, they have radiated Jesus' intentionality with the way they welcomed and served since the day I first visited.  

That being said, it is probably true that all of us at Redemption Hill have traveled with Matt and Betty Bristol through these last months of Betty's life as a family.  We have hoped for healing, asked for updates, and enjoyed grace together week in and week out.  In so doing, we have seen each step of the journey marked by gratitude, authenticity, and confidence-

Gratitude at His grace that covers us and another day given.  

Authenticity in attesting to the reality of pain and suffering in our world.

Confidence in God's sovereignty and the power of the Gospel over death.

Matt has generously shared these last few weeks with our church family and made God look so good in the process.  What follows are Matt's last two updates on Betty's impending "promotion to glory," far too beautiful not to share.

Monday, January 23

Getting very close to promotion…

Betty is still here, but it will not be long before she is promoted to glory. She is heavily medicated now but at times can hear and understand. She nodded to our son Matt that she wanted breakfast this morning, not just any breakfast but scrambled eggs. So eggs she received.

At this point she looks just like her brother looked a year and a month ago, mainly sleeping (morphine tends to do that), no longer coughing, much more difficulty breathing. She seems able to hear when we speak, and the hospice nurse says we have entered the final hours. Whether that means 8 or 48, only the Lord knows. But we plan to keep praying, even singing to her, loving her as she slowly but inexorably slips into the loving and eternal arms of our Savior.

Thanks for all your prayers. It will not be long now. She is more than ready. I am the one not ready yet. Tears are starting to flow. Hard to stop them for long. I should be happy, but it is a mixture of emotions.

All around the world, each of you is family, thanks for coming along on this journey of faith and hope.

God bless you! Take each new day as a precious gift from a loving God. If you do not really believe in God or know God in a life changing way, take a moment now and stop what you are doing, and just talk to Him. He is always near and never sleeps. Tell Him you want to know Him in a fresh and real way, and thank Him for the gift of life and energy and love and family and work and everything! Ask Him to forgive you for being away and opposed to Him, or ignoring and disobeying Him, and He will hear and respond. Then read His Word in a new way, asking His Holy Spirit to open your eyes and give you a new understanding. That is Betty’s desire for you on this perhaps her last day before she goes off to be with Jesus. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is so simple, yet so profound. One can argue theology all day, but one cannot argue with a changed life. I thank God for giving us all Betty as an example of His grace and love.

Am sorry I let several days go by without posting…it has been somewhat a blur for me. Yesterday the nurse asked me when Betty started on hospice and I could not recall that it has been 2 weeks!

A sweet sister from our church came yesterday and sang for Betty, one of her favorite songs. His eye is on the sparrow. Betty smiled. God smiled.

In His Love,
Matt     

Wednesday, January 25

Betty is with Jesus. Thank you, Lord.

Last night she waved off further meds and would not receive further oxygen. She said she was ready to go. Matt IV and I slept next to her bed, and at one point he helped me climb into bed with her, where I was able to hold her and comfort her. My last act was to apply cream to the soles of her feet. I wanted to be standing at her side when she went, but I think she wanted to spare me that.

She is still a bit warm, but hands are cold and there is no question she is gone. Allie says she has read that sometimes the dying consciously wait until loved ones are away before they go. Or perhaps it is God who waits. She suffered so much, and so nobly, so gracefully. Last night she was still receiving guests in her room. Now I am here writing this and she is lying still. I prayed over her with the kids a moment ago. They are strong. Allie will be a great nurse. Matt is a tower of strength. They are a major part of Betty’s legacy. Not all, but special.

I am signing off this blog for now, to help clean and change her clothes and then to call hospice. As near as I can tell, she passed into the arms of Jesus at about 6:30am EST.

Thank you Lord for her life and witness, for her sweet spirit, for her strength, for her amazing strength and her amazing faith in you, her amazing God, our amazing God. She suffered well, just a glimpse into your own suffering. She will live with You forever. Amen!

Writing through tears of joy and sorrow.

Matt

No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me.