Death Has Lost It's Sting

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My mom Rose Marie Theresa Rignola Markstaller and my sister Melinda Lee Markstaller the best care giver ever!!!!!

As you can imagine saying goodbye to a loved one is not an easy thing go do.
I had planned to visit my mother in November, the 12th, my ticket was purchased, my time was scheduled with work and arrangements were made with my sister. I tried to get to her at least every six months as her health seemed to be worse with each visit. All of "my" plans were made.  But God....

Gems I cannot express to you enough the importance of having time with the Lord and allowing the Holy Spirit to be heard. Our lives are so loud and we are so busy but He comes in a still small voice. Maybe because He wants to know we WANT to hear Him.

And that's what happened I heard Him say "Gena go now."  It was Tuesday Nov 1st. I called the airline and they had 2 flights available.

Before I tell you that I want to rewind to my last trip to New York.
Do you remember a few months back Southwest had a glitch in their computer system and all their flights were delayed or cancelled. People were sitting in airports all over the country, I was one of those people. Little did I know God was already preparing a blessing for me. About 2 weeks after that ordeal I received an email from Southwest offering me a 1/2 price ticket any where in the country but it had to be booked by the end of October.... My ticket to New York, the Lord always provides.

The Southwest rep said they had a flight at 10 A.M. Wednesday 11/2  but it had a 3 hour lay over in MD. The next flight was a direct flight and would arrive at 11 P.M.  I may not have told you this but I really don't like flying so my first thought was take the straight flight! Again I heard the Spirit say "go now."
I took the first flight. There was a $400. charge to change the ticket, but God.... She waved the fee.

The flight was early due to favorable winds (Angels) I arrived on Long Island a little before 5 and was at my mother's side by 5:20, thank you Chrissy Bartow!

Gems I had the honor of praying my mom into Heaven, an honor I will be forever grateful for, however, nothing about her death was pretty or peaceful.
My mother had pneumonia and basically drown in her own fluids. She made the most horrible gurgling sounds and gasped for breath for hours. It was the most heart wrenching experience I have ever endured.

My sister and I held her tight, praying and reminding her she was loved and was not alone. My family and I were and are truly happy my mother's suffering had ended.
 
My mother went home to Jesus at 9:10 P.M. November 2, 2016 If I hadn't listened to the Holy Sprit I would have missed being with her. 

I want to honor my mother and share part of her eulogy.

 

Rose Marie Markstaller the mother of Darlene, Melinda, Eddie Joe, Gena and Michael. She was a grandmother, great grand mother, daughter, aunt cousin and friend.

 

My mom was a loyal person. One of the best traits she left in her family was generosity my mom would give you her last dollar, if she didn't have something you needed she would find a way to get it for you  even if she had to buy it herself. 

 

My mom could stretch a dollar further than any person I have ever met. She had the envelope program long before Dave Ramsey, another trait she instilled in us. She always found a way to make money which was good because she had a personal account with Home Shopping Network.

This also created in us the ability to work hard for what we want. 

My mother did not finish high school or go to college but she didn't let that determine what she would accomplish.

She went to beauty school and became a hair dresser. Saturday mornings were busy with my grandmother and other relatives having their hair done for the following week.
My mother's own hair was very thin and she wore wigs. She was so meticulous that they matched perfect so you couldn't tell it wasn't her own hair.
One Sunday she and my father came to church with us, my Amanda was about 8 and as I introduced them to some friends Amanda announced quote proudly "this is my grandma she can take off her hair and my grandpa can take out his teeth!" My mother was not happy.

 

My mom was sooooo Independent, driving back and forth from New York to FL by herself taught us to do things we are afraid of doing alone. Do it afraid!

 

My mother put up with my father and that's all I'm going to say about that.  This taught us about being committed to someone, to the very end my mother truly loved and took care of my father and although he may not have been the most kind person my father loved in his own way and took care of his wife and family to the end.

My mother was able to be a stay at home mom, each Friday my father handed over his check to her. She always had a beautiful home, their bills were paid and they had good cars. My father worked a physically manual job everyday then worked the nursery after work and all weekend.

More qualities that were instilled in us their children.

But the best thing my mother learned about was a relationship with Jesus Christ!

When people hear a person dies, especially someone like my mom who was suffering they say she's in a better place. But are they? Yes there is another place we will spend eternity and one of those places is hell.

You may be thinking well you just listed all these good things about your mom so of course she's in a better place /Heaven BUT if that was all I shared then NO, she would be in a way worse place and the suffering she had here would be Nothing  compared to the suffering she would begin in hell because that is where she would be.
 

But thank you Lord that is not where my mother's story will end.

 

You may have come here today because it has stirred in you the reality that you too will die or to show your respect for the dead but I want you to leave here knowing that my mother is not dead and you can choose to see her again. 

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 

  

God's word tells us in John 14:2-3  “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

God sent His son Jesus Christ to allow us relationship with Him and know that death has truly lost it's sting.If the last memory I would have of my mother was her shriveled up grey body I would be a basket case. But God...
We, you, can spend eternity in the presence of our Lord if we admit we need Christ, ask forgiveness for our sins, repent and accept Christ as the only pardon for our sins.

Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 

Only GOD!

 

This is where I get it from :)

 

 

One of my favorite moments, reading the Bible to my mom.

 

 

see you soon mommy