Yes, but it had seemed such a convenient time for me to die. There I was already in hospital and likely to be in need of far more care than I already had.
But here I
was, celebrating my nineties, with such thankfulness that God had not
answered
my knocking so hard on heaven’s door.
Joel and I
used to visit there to take a service, and after his death I was delighted when
the ladies of Grace took over this ministry. And so now I have a loving caring
family, and have taken on the self-appointed position of birthday poem writer.
Two days before I had been writing a birthday poem for a special twenty year old and then, realising no one was likely to write one (I was wrong) that I needed to write one for me.
So with deep
gratitude to all those who are giving me joy in living in so many ways, and
very especially to our wonderful Hyelim who has given me the desire of my heart
in letting me hear my favourite hymn sung before my funeral, and who knows but
Jesus may have come to surprise us all.
NINETY AND
STILL CLIMBING
Not yet, not
yet to reach God’s mountain peak
Still
heights to challenge on His chosen way
Not ours to
choose our time for reaching home
So let’s
cheer each other in God’s Pilgrim Way
He’s giving
us fresh garments to put on
And songs of
praise to sound our joy abroad
New strength
when ours seems almost gone
Join with
God’s church to welcome others home
Thank God
for every birthday we have passed
And those
who walk with us this Pilgrim way
Reaching old
age with all his promises
We’ll joyful
know his blessings day by day
Pauline Lewis