A Unique Perspective about a Dearly Loved Woman and Her Passing

There are so many different types of experiences and challenges we face. This is the first of many I would soon be facing. It was the beginning of a spiritual awakening in my life. I'm hoping that those who remember Sonny and Dorothy will appreciate this as much as I did.

Several years ago now I was facing some pretty big trials. Financial debt and car issues (pretty much intertwined) as well as the death of a parent of each pastor in my church. Eric's (the assistant pastor of the church I attended in Michigan) Dad died unexpectedly in April of 2008 and Brian's (the senior pastor) Mom died May 12, 2008. The latter I want to focus on as I really didn't really know Eric's Dad. He didn't go to our church and I really only remember seeing him once or twice.

Brian's Mom, Dorothy Knight, is a different story. I knew her and she was a good friend. She was in my small group and I would give her rides to and from it as well as church. I remember her sitting in the back seat on the passenger side because the front passenger side door had a mind of its own and would open at will. So it was like I was chauffeuring her around Calumet and Traprock Valley. She had to spend a lot more time with me some nights because I would turn the wrong way on Traprock Valley road and end up in Kearsarge which for those who don't know is about fifteen miles out of my way by the time it's all said and done...I think anyway. I know it's at least ten. We always laughed about that. We also went out to eat at least twice. Once she was asked by one of her grand kids if she was coming over to their house for lunch after church. She said, "No. Paul's taking me out on a date for lunch." :-) Again. We laughed about that. A lot of laughs.

We had serious talks too. I can't remember many of them but I know they were there. She talked about her husband a lot and that she missed him. He did a lot for her. Maybe too much. That's okay though. He took care of her. I know he was a good father and husband because I can see it in his son.

On Monday (May 12, 2008) a friend called to tell me of her passing. No one expected it.  Everyone was shocked.  

Now  I want to add something in regards to terminology and death. Prior to this theses events a good friend's mother passed away and after Eric's (a pastor at my church in Michigan) Dad passed away she told me a story about how her mother "left." She didn't die.  That was the way she described her mom's passing. I didn't realize it then but that was going to really help me deal with the events to come.  

Working nights at Walmart gave me opportunity to do a lot of thinking. On Monday, all day (and night) I was thinking about Dorothy and her family. Something came to mind while I was working in the juice isle. Sunday was, of course, Mother's Day. To hinir the mothers, during the service they were ran a power point presentation with pictures of different women in the church.  There was one picture in particular that stood out to me, only momentarily at the time,  but came back full force on Monday night. It was a picture of Dorothy.   Interestingly enough, Sonny (her husband who had passed on two years ago) was also in the picture.

With this as a backdrop, I want to share something that God used to help me work through Dorothy's "leaving". 

God brought Sonny home to be with him two years prior to Dorothy. so he has enjoyed two years of being on God's presence. On Friday, May 9, 2008 God called Sonny into His office. After some pleasantries were discussed God said, "Sonny, there is a specific reason I wanted to talk to you. Dorothy is planning a trip to Scotland and she is supposed to leave on Tuesday. However, I've got different plans. Scotland is a great place, but it's time for her to come Home." Well, needless to say, Sonny was elated. God continued, "I know what you're thinking and so I need you to do something for me. I want you to escort her to the home I've prepared for both of you and I thought that Mother's Day (even if it was a day created by card companies to make money) would be a good day to do it." You thought Sonny was excited before! He was almost jumping out of his seat with excitement. God then explained the logistics of it and how it would play out.

On Mother's Day 2008 Sonny left for the Keweenaw Peninsula. (It was a short walk down the street). During the offering there was a power point presentation with pictures of all the mothers and ladies in the church. Dorothy's picture was among the pictures shown. Sonny arrived at church about the time the power point was going to start. He walked up the middle isle and up to the platform just as a picture of Dorothy, a couple grand kids, and Sonny appeared, and for a brief second he was visible, sitting at the head of the table, smiling at the congregation. Brian got up to preach and Sonny sat down next to his wife and once again had the privilege of listening to his son preach.

Church ended and the family spent time together with some friends at a restaurant. (Incidentally, God made sure that they were once again, very briefly, alike in human form. Of course it was one sided but still the same. Two years prior on the night before Sonny "left" he sat and ate next to the same man that Dorothy sat next to the day before she "left". Some might read that and think that they need to reconsider who they sit next to. I would've been honored to be that man. The man God used to be the human link that connected Sonny and Dorthy one last time on earth.)

After lunch and possibly some more family time, everyone went home. That night Sonny tucked Dorothy into bed and then sat in his favorite chair listening to some of his favorite gospel music. I'm sure he chuckled because I'll bet he had been hanging out with the very men he was listening to just a couple days before. "They definitely sound better on the streets of heaven," he said to himself.

Then came time to leave. Sonny walked into their room. "Dorothy," he said softly, "It's time to go Home." She had fallen asleep, so he picked her up and carried her to the car waiting outside. It was an '86 Delta Eighty Eight with a bad front passenger side door . :-) He got behind the wheel and chauffeured her Home. As he drove up the street to the pearly gates of Glory he eagerly told her about all the people they had known together on earth, gospel singers and the like who were already Home. He said that he couldn't wait for her to get to know them...in their new bodies. "It's amazing how much better all the gospel songs sound coming from perfect voices!", he said excitedly.

I can't help but think of this as God's way of allowing Sonny to once again be Dorothy's Knight in shining armor, brand new shining armor. Sonny and Dorothy are now reunited for eternity and I couldn't be more happy for them. I hope she tells my Great Grandma Roberts I said hi. :-)

In closing, it doesn't matter how Sonny and Dorothy got to Heaven, they are there and that is comforting. To know they are together now and in the presence of the Almighty God, that is truly amazing!

Again, I trust that all those who knew Sonny and Dorothy will appreciate this entry for what it is, just one person's thoughts about Dorothy's last day here. After all, she visiting anyway.

Side note:

The above events were so real to me that when I shared this with someone they said "that's a nice story" it was almost a death blow.  How can this not be real?  Now whether or not it is real or not I will never know on this earth.  What I do know is that God used it to help me to get through a very rough time.