I didn't know what time Bart passed away since I wasn't with him. When I got back to the house from seeing my boys , and I had a little bit of time with Bart, his mom gave me the phone number to the mortuary . I remember calling , and they offered words of condolences and were very nice. Then the sweet man on the other end of the phone asked, "What was your husband's name?" I froze and panicked, I apologized that I couldn't say his name and he told me to take my time. With everything that I had, I could not say Bart's name. And I thank his mother deeply for taking the phone from me and answering the rest of the questions. That must have been very hard for her as well. She knew everything that I knew but couldn't say. I remember her saying that he passed away about 2 o'clock.
For some reason, at 2 p.m. each Sunday I just know what time it is without looking at the clock. I recognized this last week. When I started crying making chicken nuggets for the boys after church. I thought of how Bart would want me to toast them and not microwave them because of the harmful rays of the machine. And it made me miss him so much. He's with me always, but reminds me when it is two on Sunday.
After his passing, I received an email from a sweet old friend who is much like a mother to me. She wrote:
I was reading this scripture about the Sabbath day -
“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” (Gen. 2:1–3.)
I thought about the part where it says that God blessed and sanctified it. Sunday is the Lord's day, the most special day of the week. And then I thought how great it would be to return to our Heavenly Father on His day!
It seems to me that if Sunday is His favorite day, that would be the day He would call His favorite people home. Bart must be a very special man!
Thank you so much Michele for your amazing, inspired words! I believe this to be true with all my heart. It makes so much sense that Bart would return on a Sunday. It was his favorite day. He ALWAYS had work off on Sunday. And always made it a priority to make it a sacred, special day, different from the rest of the week even if he wasn't feeling well enough to attend his church meetings. He had such a labor intensive job, Sunday was a great day for him to recoup.
The days go by and they aren't quite as hard. This Sunday I was rocking my Isaac for old times sake and I realized what time it was. And I was happy to feel Bart with me. I miss him so deeply but I am lucky to have so many old and new friends in my life that help heal the wounds of widowhood.
Short post, but I thought I would share! Go, enjoy your Sunday and recognize it for the sacred day that it is. It is the Lord's day. And I can't wait for my Sunday when I am reunited with my dear husband and we can celebrate each "Sunday" together forever.
"...No matter how dark our Friday, SUNDAY WILL COME!"
~Joseph B Wirthlin
I love Sunday's, too! What a very sweet post. Thanks for sharing that. I will never let two o'clock go by on a Sunday without thinking of Bart --and you and your boys.
ReplyDeleteSunday's have always been special, but Elder Wirthlin's talk helped me look at them as a day of hope and renewal. I am glad you shared this, Marcie. Beautiful thoughts.
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