Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Written by
Dr. Keith Gomez
@
6:00PM
As the days progress, more flower arrangements and gifts are
arriving for my precious bride. Our home has been turned into a florist shop
with all the wonderful smells of the arrangements. Mrs. Gomez is having a bit
of a problem being able to see, but she says that she can smell all of them.
Arrangements have come from as close as next door and as far as Sicily and everywhere in
between.
It seems as if everyone who comes to see her is shocked at
what they are seeing. It was just a few days ago she was full-faced, sitting in
a pew at church. It was just a few days ago she was on Safari with me in South Africa as
my videographer. We were celebrating our 34th anniversary. It was only a few days ago she was at the deer
camp with me in Pike County telling me how peaceful it was there and how much she loved being there. It was just a few
days ago we were out making soulwinning calls. It was just a few days ago when I thought I had a healthy wife.
To see her now you would understand my statement that this
adeno carcinoma is the pit bull of cancers. Her body has changed dramatically
in the last few days. You that are reading this report who have sat by the
bedside of a loved one will understand what I am talking about. They have one
foot planted on earth and another one in Heaven. One foot in the fleshly realm
and one foot in the spiritual realm, and as they transition from the earthly to
the heavenly that spiritual transition can be noticed. A skeletal look on her
face and mouth, and the deepening of her eyes, the shallowness and very labored
breathing are all indications that she is about to cross over. It is not an
ocean or a chasm, but a small stream. Those who know the Book know this truth and you can hear the loved ones calling from the other side. It won’t be long now till she will behold the
face of the Savior. As one of my precious members told her, “You tell Jesus to please
hurry up and come on back. I am tired of all this.” And I say “Amen” to that.
To talk about some private bedside expressions that some have
witnessed is too sacred to mention. I will say that when she hears a baby cry,
even in her stupor, that maternal instinct kicks in and she wants to see the
baby, so we make sure she gets to see them. She is so sick and yet to see how
she lights up when a baby is in the room it is quite remarkable. It is hard to
take motherhood out of a good mother.
The children are holding up quite well. They are strong
children. They have a deep love for their mother. Needless to say, all of our
lives will be changed by this. Pray for the whole bunch!
Concerning the funeral, it will be held on the Friday night
after her home-going. I have decided that if she goes home anytime from a Tuesday
afternoon or later in the week, the funeral will not be held the Friday of that
same week, but it will be held on the Friday of the next week. This will give
people who want to attend the time they will need to prepare and make
arrangements to be here for the funeral. The viewing will start in the church around
3PM and the funeral will be held at 7PM. This will allow out of town guests and
preachers to be able to come for the funeral and get back to their ministries
by Sunday. We will have a meal after the funeral on Friday night for all out of
town guests. On Saturday morning, we will have a private, special funeral
service for the dear people who we have served and who have served the Lord as
co-laborers with us. I want it to be special for those who love my wife and
those we have labored with for these 25 years as they honor the First Lady they
love so much. We will have a graveside service and then all the soulwinners and
workers can resume their duties of the ministry on Saturday afternoon. Our
immediate out of town family will have a meal and I anticipate God giving us
wonderful Sunday services the Sunday following Mrs. Gomez’ funeral.
It is hard for me to put in words and express my love to you
for your phone calls, your cards, your letters, your emails, the flowers, the
notes posted on the website and your many expressions of love for the Gomez’ at
this time. As soon as she steps over to the other side, we will post it on the website. She has the peace and the grace
of God all over her. You pray that it would be extended to all of us in the
needed hour.
Sincerely your friend,
Dr. Keith Gomez