MY FRIEND, LIBBY FORD, PROMOTED TO HEAVEN

On Christmas morning, I received an e-mail from Margaret, Libby Ford's sister, telling me that early Christmas morning Libby had been promoted to heaven. I immediately began to write my feelings and my condolences to Margaret and all of Libby's family. I wanted to put my thoughts in writing while the impact of losing a dear friend was fresh in my mind. Just as I finished and was going to close and send the e-mail; my computer crashed and everything was lost. When my computer crashes I have to wait about an hour before it will work again. Since Dory and my daughter, Lana, were waiting for me to go with them to the home of friends for Christmas; I had to wait until today to respond.

For Margaret, Betty, Chip, and all of Libby's family and friends; losing her on Christmas will always be a sad reminder; yet, we have not really lost Libby; she has just gone ahead of us. Libby put her faith in Jesus Christ -- and, yesterday, she spent her first Christmas in the actual presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Can you imagine, being an honored guest who is personally welcomed and greeted by the Lord Himself to His birthday celebration in heaven? And, joining our Lord in welcoming Libby was the love of her life, Bobby. Libby truly enjoyed a marvelous Christmas yesterday. And, for all of us who are also believers; Libby and Bobby will be there with Jesus Christ to welcome each of us to our eternal home in heaven one day.

Whenever we lose a loved one; there will, and should, always be a time of mourning. For all of Libby's family and friends, although we know she has been promoted to heaven -- there will always be an empty spot in our hearts, until we join her and Bobby in joyous heavenly worship of and with our Lord.

Libby excelled in life; in 1950 meeting and falling in love with her tall, handsome U. S. Naval Academy midshipman and upon his graduation in 1953, becoming his bride. Their love produced two beautiful children, Betty and Chip, while Bobby was beginning his flying career in the U. S. Air Force. After his death, Libby's strength carried her through fifty-two years of waiting to be reunited with Bobby. And, in those ensuing years, the mountain peaks of her life were her grandchildren -- reaching the ultimate this year when granddaughter, Laurie, earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and this past July moved to Shreveport to begin her career as a forensic scientist.

Please join me in lifting Libby's family in prayer this week as they celebrate her home-going, as they celebrate her life, and as they lay her to rest in Arlington National Cemetery alongside her beloved Bobby.

Thank you for your prayers.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray
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Margaret Withrow wrote on Christmas day:

Hi Bill - Libby died about 3 hours ago. The doctor told her children there was no hope. Then, opened her eye and shined a light and showed she was brain dead. Her children decided to take her of the ventilator and she died shortly thereafter. There will be a funeral on Monday or Tuesday at Joseph Bliley Funeral Home and burial later at Arlington National Cemetery.