Mrs Ethlyn Wright (my only surviving aunt) of Watchwell St Elizabeth,went to sleep on January 31. Her funeral is scheduled for February 18.

THE PROMISED PARADISE

Where does one go upon his death?
Many often stop to ponder
For those who ask, answers are clear
We are not left to wonder.

Life in the great hereafter,
In faith, we must accept;
The breath goes out, back to dust we go
Is a truth we can’t neglect.

Our loved ones gone before us
In their dark and lonely bed
Are resting in a sweet death-sleep
That’s what the Bible said.

And on that sweet and glorious morn
When Jesus calls their names
They awake in a kinder, better place
In a world of no more pain.

So we look toward that promise
Which the Bible holds out for us.
To be with Christ in Paradise
What a great hope it is for us!

~Adalcie Nembhard~

Revelation 21: 3, 4; John 5: 28,29

I know your in a better place. I'll never forget your kind and loving heart. Sleep well I love you always. From your great great grand daughter and great grand daughter Dejahnel and Patty xxxxxoooooxxxxxxooooooxxxxxxxxxoooooooxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxooooooxxxxoooooxoxxoxoo xoxooxoxoxooxoxooxoxoxooxoxoxoxooxoxooxoxoxoxooxox

Each time a memory of you comes in my head, I begin to cry.
I try and hold it back because I know your with your Lord
But the thought of never ever seeing you again brings many tears to my eyes.

I will always have memories of you

My loving, so caring grandmother!!

U R and will alway B as good as they get.

love
Tashi

Here's a message that is especially dedicated to the younger children in Miss Ethlyn's family:

A CHILD'S GRIEF
by M.S. Lowndes

Lord you care so much
For the tears of a hurting child
Who has felt the grief of tragedy
Now no longer wears a smile

Unable to clearly express
How much he’s hurting inside
Not fully understanding the pain
Nor knowing the reasons ‘why’

He wants so much to reach out
To someone who will listen
Someone that can hold him close
And respond with godly wisdom

For he just needs a grown up
To know what he’s going through
But often we don’t realize his grief
Because we are hurting too

Let him know you care Lord
And will be there when we’re not
The emptiness he feels within
May be filled with you oh God

May he know you as a father
And know you’re by his side
To come and wipe his tears away
When alone he silently cries

Hold him in your arms Lord
So he will be at peace
Allow us all to give him time
In dealing with his grief

For tears may last all night
But joy comes in the morning
So let him grieve throughout the night
For a new day will be dawning
~Revelation 21: 3,4~

The meories of you will always remain a precious treasure.

"Wherever you are in heaven, tell God I said that you could be an angel....wherever you are in heaven, tell God I said that you deserve a pair of wings."

It breaks my heart to have to say good-bye, but I know that you are in a better place. You are and will always be loved by us. Rest in Peace Grandma.

Love,
Peta-Gaye

Grandma"aka" Mama

There are no words to express the pain I'm feeling. All I know is that my "mama" is gone.Mama I thank you for everything that you have done for me, and I will miss you dearly.I know that you are with your father and that you're happy and at peace,but it just kills me inside to know that I will never get to see your smile again. Home will never be the same again.

"YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY SUPER WOMAN"

A poem for Miss Ethlyn's family:

THE HOUSE IS EMPTY NOW
By Reverend William E. Gramley

The house is empty now, and so am I.
The silence is all around me
and penetrates my every step.
If I listen to music, it pierces my soul
and brings up tears on its way out.
I see her picture on several walls,
giving a momentary glow
to days gone by, filling those rooms
with love’s reflections, as I pass through.
I go out and return, but the routine and the voices
beyond this place cannot come back with me.
I am stripped and searched at the door,
humbled as I lean upon the entrance way.
I may only take the emptiness in.
That doesn’t seem necessary,
since it abides here anyway.
The house is empty now,
and so am I.

~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8~

DON'T WAIT
Glasceta Honeyghan


Don't wait for tomorrow to brighten my day
for
today the sun, a round golden mouth
spews golden beams and warms the world
but
tomorrow a rain-cloud could sheathe it
and
snuff out the beam you had promised for me.

Don't wait for tomorrow to say I thank you
for
today my fields are laden with grain,
my storehouse full to overflow
but
tomorrow could bring a storm or thieves
and
I must stretch out to you instead.

Don't wait for tomorrow to bring me a rose
for
this morning its petals slowly unroll
and spread out to shafts of rising sun
but
the same sun soon folds them again
and
shortly it's a rose, shriveled, gone.


Don't wait for tomorrow to sing my love song
for
last night the crickets chirped my lullaby
and
the birds choraled me to morning
but
brighten my day...
thank me...
give me a rose...
and sing my love song
before I too, am yesterday.

~Ecclesiastes 9:10~

Sister Etts affectionately known.Sister Ethlyn I am going to miss you so, so much, you tought me how to pray at the Newell New Testament Church of God church, "The lord is my shepard I shall not want", that was my little prayer.
When I misbehave you was always there to keep me in line.
May God bless you and may your soul rest in peace and you find everlasting comfort in Abraham,s bussom, you are at peace now, sleep on sleep on you are with God now.
I will miss you.

God’s Promise of a Paradise

A Paradise our God has promised,
By means of Christ millennial reign,
When he’ll blot out all sin and sorrow,
Removing death and tears and pain.

Soon here on earth, for God so purposed,
His son will cause the dead to rise,
It was the promise of Christ Jesus,
’You’ll be with me in Paradise.’

Oh joy of joys! What grand reunion.
When billions dead return to life!
’Twill be a time of fine instruction.
Completely free from hateful strife.

Yes Paradise our Lord did promise
And he is now earth’s rightful King
So let us thank our God Jehovah.
Do leap for joy his praises sing.

A Paradise, the earth will be.
With eyes of faith, this we can see,
This promise Christ will soon fulfill,
For he delights to do God’s will.
--author unknown

ONE SMALL ROSE
~author unknown~

I would rather have one small rose
From the garden of a friend
Than to have the choicest flowers
When my stay on Earth must end.

I would rather have one pleasant word
In kindness said to me
Than flattery when my heart is still
And my life on Earth has ceased to be.

I would rather have a loving smile
From friends I know are true
Than tears shed round my casket
When this world I've bid Adieu.

Bring me all your flowers today
Whether pink, white or red:
I'd rather have one blossom now
Than a truckload when I'm dead.

~Proverbs 27:1

SOME PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO HELP US DEAL WITH THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE

(1) Rely on friends: Do not hesitate to let others help if they offer to do so and you can really use some assistance. Understand that it may be their way of showing you how they feel; perhaps they cannot find the right words.—Proverbs 18:24.

(2) Take care of your health: Grieving can wear you out, especially in the beginning. Your body needs sufficient rest, healthful exercise, and proper nourishment more than ever. A periodic checkup by your family doctor might be in order.

(3) Postpone major decisions: If possible, wait for at least some time until you are thinking more clearly before you decide such things as whether to sell your house or to change your job. (Proverbs 21:5) One widow recalled that several days after her husband died, she gave away many of his personal possessions. Later, she realized that she had given away mementos she treasured.

(4) Be patient with yourself: Grief often lasts longer than people in general realize. Yearly reminders of the lost loved one may renew the pangs. Special pictures, songs, or even smells can trigger the tears. One scientific study of bereavement explained the grief process as follows: "The bereaved may swing dramatically and swiftly from one feeling state to another, and avoidance of reminders of the deceased may alternate with deliberate cultivation of memories for some period of time." Keep Jehovah's precious promises in mind.—Philippians 4:8, 9.

(5) Make allowances for others: Try to be patient with others. Realize that it is awkward for them. Not knowing what to say, they may clumsily say the wrong thing.—Colossians 3:12, 13.

(6) Beware of using medication or alcohol to cope with your grief: Any relief offered by drugs or alcohol is temporary at best. Medication should be taken only under a doctor's supervision. But be careful; many substances are addictive. In addition, these may delay the grieving process. A pathologist warns: "The tragedy has to be endured, suffered and eventually rationalised and to retard this unduly by knocking out the [person] with drugs may prolong or distort the process." Lasting relief will come through meditating on Jehovah's grand purposes.—Psalm 1:2; 119:97.

(7) Get back into a regular routine: You may have to push yourself at first to go to work, to go shopping, or to take care of other responsibilities. But you may find that the structure of your normal routine will do you a lot of good. Keep busy in Christian works.—Compare 1 Corinthians 15:58.

(8) Do not be afraid to let go of acute grief: Strange as it may seem, some bereaved ones are afraid to let go of the intense grief, believing that it may indicate their love for the deceased one is diminishing. That simply is not the case. Letting go of the pain makes way for treasured memories that will no doubt always remain with you.—Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4.

(9) Do not be unduly anxious: You may find yourself worrying, 'What will become of me now?' The Bible counsels to take one day at a time. "Living more on a day-to-day basis really helps me," explains one widow. Jesus said to his disciples: "Never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties."—Matthew 6:25-34.

The Grieving Process

The word "process" does not imply that grief has any fixed schedule or program. Grief reactions can overlap and take varying lengths of time, depending on the individual. This list is not complete. Other reactions may also be manifested. The following are some of the symptoms of grief that one might experience.

Early reactions: Initial shock; disbelief, denial; emotional numbness; guilt feelings; anger.

Acute grief may include: Memory loss and insomnia; extreme fatigue; abrupt changes of mood; flawed judgment and thinking; bouts of crying; appetite changes, with resultant weight loss or gain; a variety of symptoms of disturbed health; lethargy; reduced work capacity; hallucinations—feeling, hearing, seeing the deceased; in the loss of a child, irrational resentment of your spouse.

Leveling-off period: Sadness with nostalgia; more pleasant memories of the deceased, even tinged with humor.

New Beginnings

One of the best things we can do in our lives is this: begin again.

Begin to see yourself as you were when you were the happiest and strongest you've ever been.
Begin to remember what worked for you and what worked against you, and try to capture the magic again.

Begin to remember how natural it was when you were a child, to live a lifetime each day.
Begin to forget the baggage you have carried with you for years. The problems that don't matter anymore, the tears that cried themselves away, and the worries that are going to wash away on the shore of tomorrow's NEW BEGINNINGS.

Tomorrow tells us it will be here every new day of our lives; and if we will be wise, we will turn away from the problems of the past and give the future and ourselves a chance to become the best of friends.

Sometimes all it takes is a wish in the heart to allow yourself ... to begin again.
~ Author Unknown ~

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

THE RESURRECTION HOPE
(John 5:28,29)
28Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

To my sweet Grandma

I didn't get the chance to say goodbye and give you one last hug but I know you are in a better place.

Rest in peace and look after my sister and baby

Love always
Kaz xx

HOW WE CAN ASSIST THOSE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES IN DEATH

(1) Listen: Be "swift about hearing," says James 1:19. One of the most helpful things you can do is to share the bereaved one's pain by listening. Some bereaved persons may need to talk about their loved one who has died, about the accident or illness that caused the death, or about their feelings since the death. So ask: "Would you care to talk about it?" Let them decide. Recalling when his father died, one young man said: "It really helped me when others asked what happened and then really listened." Listen patiently and sympathetically without necessarily feeling that you have to provide answers or solutions. Allow them to express whatever they want to share.

(2) Provide reassurance: Assure them that they did all that was possible (or whatever else you know to be true and positive). Reassure them that what they are feeling—sadness, anger, guilt, or some other emotion—may not be at all uncommon. Tell them about others you know of who successfully recovered from a similar loss. Such "pleasant sayings" are "a healing to the bones," says Proverbs 16:24.—1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14.

(3) Be available: Make yourself available, not just for the first few days when many friends and relatives are present, but even months later when others have returned to their normal routine. In this way you prove yourself to be "a true companion," the kind who stands by a friend in a time of "distress." (Proverbs 17:17) "Our friends made sure that our evenings were taken up so that we didn't have to spend too much time at home alone," explains Teresea, whose child died in a car accident. "That helped us cope with the empty feeling we had." For years afterward, anniversary dates, such as the wedding anniversary or the date of the death, can be a stressful time for the survivors. Why not mark such dates on your calendar so that when they come around, you can make yourself available, if necessary, for sympathetic support?

(4) Take appropriate initiative: Are there errands that need to be run? Is someone needed to watch the children? Do visiting friends and relatives need a place to stay? Recently bereaved persons are often so stunned that they do not even know what they need to do, let alone tell others how they may help. So if you discern a genuine need, do not wait to be asked; take the initiative. (1 Corinthians 10:24; compare 1 John 3:17, 18.) One woman whose husband had died recalled: "Many said, 'If there's anything I can do, let me know.' But one friend did not ask. She went right into the bedroom, stripped the bed, and laundered the linens soiled from his death. Another took a bucket, water, and cleaning supplies and scrubbed the rug where my husband had vomited. A few weeks later, one of the congregation elders came over in his work clothes with his tools and said, 'I know there must be something that needs fixing. What is it?' How dear that man is to my heart for repairing the door that was hanging on a hinge and for fixing an electrical fixture!"—Compare James 1:27.

(5) Be hospitable: "Do not forget hospitality," the Bible reminds us. (Hebrews 13:2) Especially should we remember to be hospitable to those who are grieving. Instead of a "come anytime" invitation, set a date and time. If they refuse, do not give up too easily. Some gentle encouragement may be needed. Perhaps they declined your invitation because they are afraid of losing control of their emotions in front of others. Or they may feel guilty about enjoying a meal and fellowship at such a time. Remember the hospitable woman Lydia mentioned in the Bible. After being invited to her home, Luke says, "She just made us come."—Acts 16:15.

(6) Be patient and understanding: Do not be too surprised by what bereaved ones may say at first. Remember, they may be feeling angry and guilty. If emotional outbursts are directed at you, it will take insight and patience on your part not to respond with irritation. "Clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind, mildness, and long-suffering," recommends the Bible.—Colossians 3:12, 13.

(7) Write a letter: Often overlooked is the value of a letter of condolence or a sympathy card. Its advantage? Answers Cindy, who lost her mother to cancer: "One friend wrote me a nice letter. That really helped because I could read it over and over again." Such a letter or card of encouragement may be composed "in few words," but it should give of your heart. (Hebrews 13:22) It can say that you care and that you share a special memory about the deceased, or it can show how your life was touched by the person who died.

(8) Pray with them: Do not underestimate the value of your prayers with and for bereaved ones. The Bible says: "A righteous man's supplication . . . has much force." (James 5:16) For example, hearing you pray in their behalf can help them allay such negative feelings as guilt.—Compare James 5:13-15.

Grandma,
Even though so far away we still feel the pain of your sad loss. Yet our sadness turns to smiles, and happiness with memories of you. We love you. Rest in Peace.

Love your grandson Wayne and great grandchildren Jarrell, Ebony and Imani.

Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room.

Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity.

What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well."

~Henry Scott Holland~
~John 11: 11-13

"Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends."

~Richard Bach~

“God has been so good to me;
He has given me two hands
To pick His roses with -
And two eyes - to see his rainbow -
Why should I complain
When they are aged and wrinkled
And He asks me to return them,
For new ones perhaps?”
~John sims~
Job 33:25

"... When you ask God for a gift,
Be thankful if he sends,
Not diamonds, pearls or riches,
but the love of real true friends."
~ Helen Steiner Rice

I’LL AWAKE

My eyes have seen
A sunrise crack the dawn,
A rainbow arch the sky,
A snowfall cap a mountain;
I have no fear to close my eyes
For a short while, then,
I’ll wake with keener eyes
To witness
A more spectacular daybreak.

~Glasceta Honeyghan~

Psalm 8
1 O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Grandma the words cant come to explain how much I love you and miss you very much.