“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!'” (Revelation 14:13, New Living Translation).

I was there today when my grandmother took her last breath and entered into eternity.  It was an extremely sad moment in that I lost someone I loved, yet it was also a moment of great joy to know that she is fully alive and fully healed in the presence of Jesus her Lord.

I was blessed to have her as my grandmother. Her whole life was one of serving others and not thinking of herself. I imagine I’ll be half-expecting to see her show up in her Cadillac with a casserole at her own funeral to comfort and console her family and friends. She was just that kind of lady.

I’ve heard all my life that they just don’t make ’em like they used to in reference to cars and appliances and just about anything else you can think of. I believe this applied to my grandmother. Whatever she was made of, they don’t make em’ like her anymore. She was indeed one of a kind, very special, and tough as nails, fiercely loyal to her family.

The Bible says that those who have found hope in Jesus do not grieve as those who have no hope. We know that those we love who die in the Lord are with the Lord, and we will see them again some day.

I love that Billy Graham is quoted as saying about his own passing: “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.”

She simply went to sleep in a nursing home and woke up in a mansion in heaven, face to face with Jesus.

Ruby, this is not goodbye. This is a “see ya later, alligator.”