Dying with Purpose

Dying with Purpose

“Life is about choices.”

“Trust, but verify.”

“This isn’t the path I would have chosen, but I can certainly choose how I go down it.”  Three sayings Brandon attributed to his mama, who passed into the arms of God last week, after a 3 and ½ year cancer battle.  You might remember, I told you of my recent conversations with her about dying, about Heaven – (Courage and the Narrow Path - http://pastorwoman.com/ReadArchive.aspx?id=1594)

  “I wonder how God would have me live this part of my life with purpose—or die, I guess,” is one of the things I had the privilege of hearing Raquel say.  Finding our purpose for life is vital to living in a meaningful, fulfilling way.  But have you have ever thought about dying with purpose?  Raquel did.  “I want to honor God through it,” she said. Absolutely remarkable.  She was not asking why God would let this happen to her, she was not doubting him or his love, nor was her faith waning in any way—my dear suffering friend just wanted to draw her last breath honoring God.

A number of times over the years, I have written that some of my favorite reading is the Sunday New York Times’ obituaries because I learn about people—the human condition—and folks’ responses to them.  Obituaries tell a little about people’s professions, hobbies, altruistic endeavors, ethnic and cultural backgrounds as well as educational pursuits and the impact individuals have made during their lifetimes.  Obituaries often put words to legacies, and they challenge me to consider, ‘what will my legacy be?’   

 Frankly, I do not know if an obituary was written for Raquel, but here is what it would read:  Raquel Z., 54, leaves behind a loving husband, and three standout young adult children, who would make any mother proud.  Born in a poor neighborhood in Brooklyn, Raquel heeded her Puerto Rican mother’s constant prompting to make her education a priority, got good grades and graduated a year early at 16.  After a year and a half in college, family and finances required her to move home, so she did what any woman would do in 1978—she joined the military.  She must have been the prettiest toolbox-toting mechanic the Air Force ever had, and her expertise quickly became sought after by pilots all around.  

Through dint of circumstance, she became a single mother of a darling two-year-old daughter who was her spitting image, and the pair made a move to the Central Valley of California … Merced.  Raquel did what it took--working long hours in a restaurant, waiting tables, then managing, finally opening other stores for the restaurant chain—to support herself and her baby girl.  Soon after followed John, a fellow Air Force man—a great guy—and father for little April, two more children, and a return to college to study, of all things, Chemistry and Biology.  With just a bachelors’ degree, she was so highly thought of, she was recruited to teach at University of California Merced in their chemistry department.  Clearly, she was incredibly intelligent as well as hard working. 

When the children graduated, the family relocated to Southern California, where Raquel finally got to live near the ocean, her fondest dream.  Always a student, she poured herself into learning all she could about the Bible, and continued to mentor her children with wisdom.  Cancer hit her hard, but she applied her lifetime ‘can do’ attitude, fought and prayed like fury, and lived life fully.  Another of her sayings was, ‘Vomit and put lipstick back on.’  Remarkable.

She was a true lady, as well as courageous, Christ-like, caring, and incredibly compassionate.   To the end … which was her beginning of all things new. 

Legacy?  Love, hard work, good choices, and when in doubt, wear purple and good shoes.  “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her…” Yup, they sure did.  “A woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”  From Proverbs 31 

Today all of us were wearing purple in her honor, and we picture her in heaven now . . . out of pain, dancing in gold shoes, and certainly wearing the finest shades of purple, probably living in a home in the Amethyst section of Heaven, like John talks about in Revelation 21.  Thank you, God, for your beautiful creation Raquel.  I know you smiled the day you made her, and I know you smiled the day she came Home.

Christine 

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