The Shortest Twenty-Five Years Ever

Icon of the Resurrection aka, the Harrowing of Hades

Twenty five years ago this month my grandmother (Suggie) went to be with the Lord. Five years later, my mother joined her. Today they are part of the Great Cloud of Witnesses who surround us on every side. They, like the great named and unnamed saints of God, are "are near to the believing heart, and are ready in a moment to help those who call upon them with faith and love." (St John of Krondstadt) I often ask their prayers and the prayers of my other relatives who have gone to stand before the Lord. They were my first teachers and disciplinarians after all. Why should I not continue asking their advice? 

And talk about full of awesome! They both made it a point to wake up and remind themselves and anyone who questioned them that they both were somebody 'cos God don't make no junk!

Today, my church sang the Memorial Service for both mom and Suggie along with two other women. I felt the tears try to come but then I looked up at the Icon of the Resurrection and they faded away. After all, Christ has bestowed life upon those in the tomb who believed and so they are with Him. But being with Him has not made them forget me. They remember me and pray for me, therefore I remember them and pray for them, that their sins be forgiven and they are given life eternal in a place of rest.

Suggie, Mom, and Dingdy

Remember the souls of Thy servants, O Lord, for Thou art good, and insofar as they sinned in this life, forgive them; for no one is sinless but Thee, Who canst also give rest to the departed.

With the Saints, give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Thy servants, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no sighing, but life everlasting. 

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.

Relevant Reading
Hebrews 12:1-10
St John of Krondstadt on the Daily Invocation of the Saints
Waking Up Full of Awesome
Reading the Icon of the Resurrection (there is a list of the saints surrounding Christ in the comments on this page)