Friday, April 30, 2010
Farewell 'Lady'
The First Lady of the McGruders, Priscilla passed away yesterday. Her nickname was "Lady," hence the name of the post.
It has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life having her as a hero. I think she had one of the most beautful spirits of any human being I ever met. Just the glow of her face and smile when she talked just made you feel special. It didn't matter who you may be, she was always full of kind words and humility. I met her probably close to ten times during my teenage years.
As heartsick as I am over her death, I can't help but think how wonderful it must be for her to have crossed 'Jordan's tide' and to have finally made it over. On the last video clip I posted of them singing, in the middle of that song ( which is technically named Jordan's tide on the original CD), her insertion of 'What a Lovely Day!' just slightly overwhelms me now.
When I think about the countless songs she sang regarding Heaven, and the energy and excitement she sang them with, if she was 3/4 as excited yesterday when she heard 'that big gate click behind her,' I'm sure it was a celebration that I regret I missed. She described her final destination in one song like this - 'Mansion of splendor, high walls and gates open wide; no more to sorrow, these tears He will dry from my eyes. It's a story-book ending where none of my dreams fall apart!'.
For the ones who know nothing about the McGruders, everything in quotes is something that is present somewhere in recorded form on one CD or another.
I will miss her terribly but at least we live with the hope of Heaven. It's weird - my heart hurts over her death, but I almost feel bad feeling sad because she has fought sickness and suffered so much - yesterday the tears of pain for her were all wiped away and yesterday all of her strength was renewed. She has finally caught a glimpse of the Master. I'm sure every day of suffering was worth that moment for her.
Farewell 'Lady' / Priscilla. The memory of you will be one that I treasure for the rest of my life. Thank you for your dedication to deliver your message of hope and of Christ with the annointing I have yet to rediscover in another.
I did not have this information until after I posted this, but a couple Pentecostal websites I follow state that at the last few moments of her life, she woke up, began to smile and then began to speak in tongues. It was during this time that she took her last breath! What a way to die!!
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