Of family departed...

This has been sad fortnight for me. My grandmother passed away. She was 82 and she lived to bring up 7 children and see 11 grandchildren grow up altogether. She has been sick for quite some time now and last Saturday, after being unconscious for about a week, she slipped away from us. As I think back about the experiences and sights she would have seen throughout her lifetime, the British occupation, the Japanese occupation, the May 13th incident, putting 7 children through university, the birth of her grandchildren, the dead of her husband and zillions more, I see that she has accomplished her missions in life. She died peacefully as an accomplished person. Although I never spoke much to her in her later years, I would like her to know this:

“Take care grandmother. If not for you, we would not be here and we thank you (all the 11 of your grandchildren) for the effort and tireless commitment you gave to your children and to us, the grandchildren. Now we will take it from where you left off to further keep this family together as how you did for decades and to grow together. I take it onto myself as the oldest grandson to be personally responsible in ensuring the growth of my 10 other brothers and sisters so that we may one day accomplish what you have in the years to come. May the LORD bless your for all your kindness and forgive you for your sins and take you under his wing to a place where your soul may finally rest in peace on a bed of roses”.

I would like to end this entry with a prayer for her departed soul.

Nunc Dimittis
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears attend to the voice of my supplication.If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who could survive?
But there is forgiveness in you, and we revere you for it.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watch-men for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all iniquities.

Eternal rest grant unto my grandmother, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. Amen.

O Lord, hear my prayer. And let my cry come to you.O God, creator and redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of your departed servants the forgiveness of all their sins.

Through my prayer, may she obtain the pardon she has always desired.

Amen

-Psalm 130 (129)-

May she rest in peace with the LORD. Amen