Home-going

Dad is with us for a few days. We just had a conversation about his parents death.

Elmore and Alice Eicher had returned to the US after 45 years of missionary service in 1972. They lived for another 20 years after that in Florida.

At the end they were living in a community home in Deland where they were assigned a small home with the understanding that they would be cared for in the assisted living unit or admitted at the care unit when needed.

Alice (my grand-mother) was ill for a long time. She had always had health problems - including a terrible accident in India where she almost died. The last few years were ones of constant admission and care - especially with a long-term pneumonia. However she remained an amazing source of light to all her care-givers. Those who looked after her were blessed by her concern for them, her prayers and her amazing cheer.

My Oma Eicher (which is what we called her) had been in the care unit for over a year when her husband Elmore (my 'Opa Eicher') started to fall a bit sick. Till then he had been looking after himself in the home. After the sickness he was then moved to the semi-independent living unit. For two nights he was there.

On the second night the nurse checked in at 12 midnight. He was reading. At 3 AM he was asleep. In the morning he was dead.

The nurse went over to tell Oma Eicher. She told her that something had happened to Elmore. When Oma Eicher heard that he had died in his sleep, her first response was to throw up her hands and say gratefully "Praise God."

God calls each one of us at the right time. How good the death of the righteous are. How blessed it is to meet our Lord after a life well lived.

We very much look forward to meeting our grandparents in glory.