Last Words:” I Love You. Come and Get Us.”

Last words of a 5-year-old great-grandchild to his great-grandfather in Redding, CA were “I love you. Come and get us. Come and get us.”

Great-grandfather Ed Bledsoe had left his home to go to the doctor, but he received a phone call from his wife. She said she could see the fire and needed him to return home to get her and the two great-grandchildren.

Imagine the scene as the fires raged, smoke and fire filled the sky, and he heard his wife and the two little ones say on the cell phone, “I love you, Grandpa. Come and get us.”

Ed choked and fought back tears as he said his great-grandson Junior said, “I love you. Come and get us. Come and get us.” Those were his last words as their phone went dead.

Although Ed tried every alternate route possible and even attempted to walk to the home, he couldn’t get there. Within 15 minutes, he lost the three people he loved the most. Those last words continue to go through his mind. He probably still hears them ringing in his ears.

The Carr, California fires have destroyed almost 100,000 acres, claimed 6 lives so far, and at this point have left more than 874 structures burned. Since this is the third week of rain where I live, I wish I could send rain from the East coast to California.

Meanwhile, you and I don’t know when we will hear last words from loved ones, where they will be, and what the circumstances might be. Neither do you and I know when we may speak our last words.

Ed Bledsoe’s tragic loss amidst a natural disaster reminds me that you and I can face loss of one kind or another more than we would like to admit: loss of a loved one through death or divorce, a baby through miscarriage, childhood due to abuse, health, home, job, or family, friends and fellowship because of a major move.

Any one of those losses can make us wish we had said, “I love you” more often and had cherished time together. You and I probably wish we could have prevented the losses.

Lamentations 3:47–48: “We have suffered terror and pitfalls, ruin and destruction. Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed.”

Prayer: God, help me to love you and others with all my heart, soul, and strength and to demonstrate it not only in my words but also in my actions. Help me to comfort others and to live with passion and purpose. Amen.

Application: What specific changes will you make in your life this week?

Related Posts:

https://www.YvonneOrtega.com/alone-and-lonely-what-can-you-do-with-those-feelings/

https://www.YvonneOrtega.com/my-dad-will-rise-again/

Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega July 30, 2018