Participants:
Series Code: UBR
Program Code: UBR210026S
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00:01 What do you do
00:02 when you've lost someone near and dear to your heart? 00:05 Stay tuned to meet a man 00:06 who will share spiritual gems of hope. 00:09 My name is Jason Bradley, 00:10 and you're watching Urban Report. 00:34 Hello and welcome to Urban Report. 00:37 My guest today is Ricki D. Ramgoolie. 00:40 And he's here to open up to us 00:42 about what is perhaps the greatest loss 00:46 that he's ever experienced. 00:47 Welcome to Urban Report, Ricki. 00:51 Thank you so much, my friend and Jason, 00:53 my friend and brother, Jason. 00:54 It is such a privilege to be here. 00:56 I didn't think that I would have ever had to speak 00:59 on this topic from experience, 01:01 but God in His wisdom and providence 01:03 thought it differently. 01:04 And so I'm here and I'm ready to share 01:06 what God would have shared with me 01:08 during my time of grief. 01:09 Thank you so much for having me. 01:11 Oh, it's great to have you. 01:12 And hopefully, one day you can make it out here. 01:15 I know we're talking to you via Skype, but hopefully, 01:18 you can make it out here in person one of these days. 01:20 Love to have you in the studio here with us. 01:24 This is going to be... 01:26 For me, even hosting this program right now 01:30 is going to be a difficult situation 01:32 because often in times of loss that people are speechless, 01:37 that they don't know what to say. 01:38 And so, you know, 01:40 I really just want to open up the floor to you 01:42 to share about your loss and your experience 01:46 and all of those things. 01:48 So tell us a little bit about your experience 01:51 with this tremendous loss. 01:54 Who did you lose 01:55 and what were the surrounding circumstances? 02:00 Well, I lost my mother on July 28th, 2021. 02:05 And saying that I lost my mother 02:07 really boxes it into something that, 02:11 you know, it's so much larger than that. 02:13 I did not just lose my mother, I lost my port of call, 02:17 I lost my safe place, I lost my best friend. 02:21 And what was challenging about it is that mommy was only sick 02:26 for about six to nine months, seriously ill. 02:30 Before that, she was fine. 02:32 And so she degenerated very, very quickly. 02:35 And that's why I lost. 02:38 I didn't just lose a mother, I lost my everything. 02:41 Yes. 02:42 And that is the best way that I can describe it. 02:45 You know, she was everything. 02:47 She was my best friend, she was my guide, 02:50 she was my spiritual counselor, she was my disciplinarian. 02:55 She was everything to me. 02:57 And I lost her on July 28th, 2021. 03:01 That's 12 weeks ago. 03:02 So, yeah. Wow, wow. 03:05 At the time of this recording, that is. 03:06 Yes, yes. It's 12 weeks ago. 03:08 Tell us your mom's name. 03:10 What's your mom's name? 03:12 My mom's name was Umma, and I don't know what it means, 03:17 but her name was Umma. 03:20 Yes. 03:21 I had the privilege 03:23 and opportunity of meeting your mom 03:24 while I was there in Trinidad, 03:26 and she was an incredibly sweet, sweet lady. 03:31 And I'm so sorry for your loss. 03:33 You mentioned the fact that she had a great role 03:37 in your spiritual life. 03:40 At what age or when did that start? 03:43 And how did she, I guess, 03:47 help you along the way spiritually? 03:51 Well, I don't know if there is such a thing 03:52 as an age zero, all right? 03:54 Because it actually started before I was born. 03:58 Mommy had a very difficult pregnancy with me. 04:01 And so for, I think, 04:04 it was six out of the nine months 04:06 of pregnancy, she was hospitalized. 04:08 And all she was able to do was lie down. 04:11 And all she did during that time 04:13 was read the writings of Mrs. White. 04:17 And I'm not talking about 04:18 the nice colorful books we have now. 04:20 I'm talking about the books that were brown and hardcover. 04:23 I don't know if you remember those old books 04:26 from way back when those old hard brown cover books. 04:29 And so all she read, 04:32 all she did for those six months 04:34 was read the writings of Mrs. White. 04:37 Wow. 04:39 And I would like to think my spiritual development 04:40 and my spiritual training from my mom 04:42 began even during pregnancy. 04:44 And so when I was born, you know, like I said, 04:48 it was a very difficult pregnancy. 04:50 And so I was born, and from a very young age, 04:52 we had worship. 04:54 We sang together. 04:56 We read... We know... 04:57 I remember her very, very vividly 04:59 because I have a very excellent long-term memory. 05:02 I remember her very... 05:03 I remember standing in front of her bed, 05:05 you know, all these years, 20 something years ago, 05:08 teaching me my first memory verse. 05:10 The first text I remember, 05:12 the first text I learned by heart 05:14 was when Daniel said the Lord sent his angels 05:16 to shut his lion... 05:17 To shut the lion's mouth. 05:19 Wow. And it's ironically, the D... 05:21 You introduced me as Ricki D. Ramgoolie. 05:22 My middle name is Daniel. 05:24 I never knew that. 05:26 My mother named me Daniel. 05:28 Yeah, my middle name is Daniel. 05:30 And it was my mother who named me Daniel. 05:32 My father named me my first name, 05:34 and she named me Daniel. 05:35 And from a very young age, 05:37 you know, we did our lesson study together. 05:39 And, of course, I started to preach at the age of the 11. 05:43 And so she was always encouraging to me, 05:45 she would have me read my sermons. 05:46 I vetted all of my sermons. 05:48 You know, she vetted all of my sermons, rather. 05:50 I ran them through her, 05:52 and she always instilled in me that God came first. 05:55 Yes. 05:56 And she always instilled in me that God came first. 05:59 His opinion matters, His word matters. 06:02 And she's the one who instilled in me 06:04 both by telling me these things, 06:06 as well as by her example, 06:09 that all God really expects of us is the love. 06:14 Love Him and love His people, be kind to one another, 06:18 love Him, love His people. 06:20 And that is a legacy that by God's grace, 06:23 I intend to continue. 06:26 You know what you said there, Jason. 06:27 That day that you met mommy was actually the last full day 06:32 that mommy spent out. 06:33 Wow. 06:35 Because she came... 06:36 She went with me to the office in the morning 06:38 and we went in the field together. 06:39 And then you guys came in the evening. 06:41 Because shortly after that, I don't know if you remember. 06:43 Shortly after that, Jason, 06:45 our country got our first case of Corona. 06:47 Yes. 06:48 And as a result, the borders were locked down, et cetera. 06:50 Churches were closed. 06:52 And very shortly after that, mommy started to get sick. 06:55 And then she was diagnosed in September of last year, 06:57 and then she died in July. 06:58 So that day was actually the last day 07:00 mommy had full, a full day out. 07:03 Wow. And I was reflecting. 07:05 I'm so glad that she was able to spend that time with me 07:08 and spend that day and finishing off that day 07:11 with the 3ABN team. 07:12 Yeah. 07:13 'Cause it was such a great blessing that evening 07:15 and she got to meet you, and she loved you so much. 07:18 And so I was so glad that she was able to meet you. 07:21 I feel like I got to meet her. 07:22 She was... She was just such a sweet... 07:25 Like when she came up 07:27 and I spoke with her and stuff like that, 07:29 she just had such a sweet presence 07:31 about her. 07:33 You know, she was such a kind-hearted woman. 07:36 And I could tell that you loved your mom 07:42 so much by the way 07:44 that you took care of her 07:45 and just the way you were with your mom. 07:48 I could tell that you loved her so, so much. 07:52 I think it was about... 07:54 I'm sorry. I think it was about six. 07:55 I was around six or seven years old 07:58 when she told me the story of... 08:03 you know, her gynecologist coming to tell her 08:07 that he's recommending 08:09 that she had an abortion with me 08:11 because of the health complications. 08:13 And it was then and there that I purposed in my heart 08:18 to always love this woman, 08:20 because she loved me even before she met me. 08:23 Wow. And so I was seven years old. 08:26 I was always very mature for my age. 08:27 So at that age, 08:29 I could have understood what all of that meant. 08:31 And I purposed, as I said, come what may, 08:34 I'm going to love my mother 08:35 because she loved me before she even met me. 08:38 And she told that doctor, 08:39 "You are not Jesus, and I'm keeping my child." 08:42 Amen. Amen. 08:43 And, you know, 08:45 she was hospitalized, like I said. 08:46 And here I am, 33 years later. 08:48 Yeah, and that's huge. 08:51 You know, a little while ago, we talked about legacy. 08:54 And oftentimes, you hear people say 08:56 that they want to leave a legacy. 08:58 What type of legacy did your mother leave? 09:03 Two words, Jason. 09:05 I don't even have to think about this. 09:06 Two words, unconditional love. 09:09 And that is something that has challenged me 09:13 and still challenges me 09:15 because sometimes it's difficult to love people 09:17 who are mean to you, 09:19 who are, you know, evil to you, etcetera. 09:22 But my mother loved unconditionally. 09:25 She loved my father, her husband unconditionally, 09:28 she loved her children unconditionally, 09:29 her siblings, her mother. 09:31 She loved everyone unconditionally. 09:33 Even sometimes when, 09:35 you know, the worst of things were done to her, 09:37 the worst of things were said to her, 09:39 she loved unconditionally. 09:42 There are many other secondary things. 09:44 But if it's one thing that I intend by God's grace 09:47 to honor her legacy, was her unconditional love. 09:51 That is what she left for, especially, her children. 09:54 You know, that unconditional of love people, 09:56 love them through the eyes of God 09:58 and you can't go wrong. 10:00 Yeah, that's huge. 10:02 What about her faith? 10:03 Speak about her faith and how strong that was. 10:08 Yeah, her faith was very, very strong. 10:13 My mother came from a Hindu background, 10:16 and so she got baptized 10:21 38 years ago. 10:23 And it was difficult 10:24 because the family still practiced, 10:26 you know, Hinduism, et cetera. 10:27 Hinduism is very big in Trinidad. 10:30 So she was... 10:31 She had a Hindu background, 10:32 but she got baptized in what church? 10:35 Seventh-day Adventist. 10:37 She became a Seventh-day Adventist. 10:38 And, you know, I know that the Voice 10:40 of Prophecy lessons still exists, 10:42 but it's not as popular now as it was back then. 10:44 Okay. 10:46 But back then, it was the Voice of Prophecy. 10:47 And she did 12 lessons. 10:51 Twelve, I think, was out of 30 something. 10:53 Twelve lessons and the 13th lesson 10:56 was on the Sabbath. 10:57 And the Sabbath did it for her. 10:59 And after 13 lessons, she was ready to be baptized. 11:03 And so even at that time, she had... 11:07 She was married and had two children already, 11:09 my two older brothers. 11:10 They... 11:11 She defied everything and she got baptized 11:16 and she maintained her love and her faith in God. 11:20 We have been through a lot as a family in terms of, 11:23 you know, financially and health wise, et cetera. 11:27 But one thing 11:28 that we could have always depended on 11:30 was a word of faith from mommy. 11:33 And even if she didn't have anything to say, 11:36 her actions showed that she believed in God. 11:39 And she believed that, you know, 11:42 God knew best 11:43 and that all things are going to work out for our good. 11:45 You know, she taught me a while ago 11:48 that all things may not be good, 11:51 but all things will definitely work out for good, 11:53 and especially during her illness. 11:56 You know, it was in 2018 when I finished school, 12:00 finished my degree in theology. 12:01 And, you know, she finished working at the same time. 12:04 She had surgeries for cataract, et cetera. 12:07 So she and I ended up... 12:08 She and I ended up being home at the same time. 12:11 And it... 12:12 It was in 2018 that she and I really started 12:14 to watch 3ABN as much as we did, you know, together. 12:19 And our mindsets changed. 12:22 You know, this world became so dark to us. 12:25 And there's a song that says we set our mind on another time 12:28 and on another place. 12:30 And that experience, those three years 12:34 of really getting into God's Word even more. 12:36 And I would not have thought it possible 12:39 for my mother and I to grow closer, 12:40 but we grew closer during those three years. 12:42 We grew closer spiritually. 12:45 And so I'm telling you that to let you know 12:46 that during her illness, 12:48 her faith in God during her illness 12:49 and how rapidly she degenerated was mind blowing, 12:54 and it's exemplary. 12:56 Wow. 12:57 She never lost her faith in Jesus. 12:59 As a human, yes, she had really bad days, 13:01 she had really dark days, 13:02 she had really questioning days. 13:04 But when that... 13:05 When the dust settled, Jason, and when that sun was set, 13:09 she knew in whom she believed in. 13:11 Amen. 13:12 And her mind was set on things to come. 13:16 Her mind was not set here. 13:18 And all of these things, you know... 13:22 I'm talking like this, 13:23 but all of these things are just things 13:27 for me to hold on to. 13:28 Yes. 13:30 And when I am feeling darker and when I am feeling broken 13:31 and when I am feeling lonely, 13:34 you know, my mother's faith and my mother's example, 13:36 especially during her illness, especially during, 13:39 you know, the last moments of her life, 13:42 she held on to God. 13:44 Yes. 13:45 And if I intend to be reunited with her, 13:48 that's the one thing I need to do. 13:49 I need to hold on to God. 13:51 Amen, Amen. 13:53 What was going through your mind in those moments? 13:58 How were you feeling 13:59 and what were you thinking during that difficult time, 14:03 during the illness? 14:06 Well, I am a pastor, 14:08 but before that I was into the medical field. 14:13 I was actually studying to become 14:15 a forensic pathologist. 14:18 And as mommy's medical results came in 14:21 and I saw certain signs, et cetera, 14:24 I knew in my heart 14:26 that it would have taken a miracle 14:28 to bring mommy back. 14:32 And I also knew 14:35 that God was very much able to perform that miracle. 14:42 The first time I felt as if I breathed, Jason, 14:45 was when mommy breathed her last breath 14:49 to the back of my hand right here. 14:51 Wow. 14:52 That was the first time I felt 14:54 as if I breathed since September, 2020. 14:57 I felt as if I was holding my breath, 15:00 because while everyone was crumbling around her, 15:04 she... 15:05 I was the one that she looked to for support. 15:06 Yes. 15:08 I was the one that she looked to for spiritual word, 15:11 you know, 'cause while... 15:12 Yes, we have, you know, 15:14 Seventh-day Adventists in our family 15:15 and Christians, et cetera. 15:16 But in terms of deep spiritual connection, 15:18 you know, mommy and I were the ones who really, 15:20 really kept that faith and had created 15:23 an Adventist home space for ourselves. 15:25 Yes. And so she looked to me. 15:28 And so when she was in a bad place, 15:32 when she couldn't go on, 15:34 I had to be that one to remind her 15:36 of the goodness of God, 15:37 to remind her that, 15:39 you know, this world is not it. 15:40 And then even if He chooses not to move in the way 15:42 in which we think He should, 15:44 all these things are going to work together for her good. 15:47 And actually, 24 hours before she died, 15:51 she was having a really bad day. 15:52 And I thank God 15:54 that she didn't die on that day 15:55 because I did not want her to die on a bad day, you know? 15:59 The day that she died, she was having a good day. 16:01 Yes. She was not feeling sick. 16:04 She... 16:05 We got up and worshipped like we, what we often do. 16:08 But what was going through my mind was, God, 16:10 You either work a miracle or do something. 16:13 In my mind, God had two choices, Jason. 16:16 He could have healed her, 16:18 or He could have put her to sleep. 16:20 But I would've had a more difficult time 16:23 with the situation 16:24 if He had allowed her to remain alive 16:26 and she was getting sicker. 16:27 Yes. 16:29 And she was degenerating and she was suffering. 16:30 Mommy was suffering. 16:31 She was suffering physically, she was suffering mentally, 16:34 she was suffering spiritually. 16:36 And I would've had a more difficult time 16:38 if God did not do something. 16:40 So in my... 16:41 Of course, being the sovereign God 16:43 that He is, 16:44 He could have done anything He wanted to, 16:46 anything He had chosen to 16:48 and I would've still had to love Him. 16:50 Yeah. 16:51 I would've still had to open my Bible and trust Him, 16:53 you know? 16:54 But I would've had a more difficult time doing so, 16:57 if He had kept her alive when she was suffering. 16:58 Yeah. 16:59 Death to the Christian is a welcome thing. 17:01 Death to the Christian is not a bad thing because 17:04 it is actually what happens after death, 17:06 because we know death is a sleep. 17:09 The best place to be at this time, in this time, 17:12 especially in this time, is to be asleep in Jesus. 17:17 You know, Solomon who lived a very, very full life. 17:20 Solomon lived life. Okay? 17:22 He was the richest man alive, he was the wisest man alive. 17:25 He also had a lot of woman, a lot of wives. 17:28 I can't even get one, he had so much, right? 17:31 So he lived life. 17:35 But in Ecclesiastes Chapter 4, 17:38 and this was the first text, Jason. 17:40 The first time I did personal devotion after mommy died 17:43 was the day after her funeral. 17:45 And the awesome God brought to me this text. 17:50 The first text that I got when I started do 17:52 my devotion was Ecclesiastes 4:2-3. 17:57 Solomon who lived life said that he envied the dead. 18:03 Because they're not... 18:04 They don't have to fight up, as I would... 18:07 As you would say in Trinidad, 18:08 they wouldn't have to contend with the living. 18:10 And he said in verse chapter... 18:12 In verse 3 of Chapter 4, 18:15 that better than the dead and better than the living 18:18 are those who have never even been born because 18:21 they never had to face the corruption of this world. 18:26 And so death is a welcome thing 18:29 to the Christian whose life is hid in Jesus Christ. 18:33 And so for me, death is not the worst thing. 18:36 The worst thing is being alive and your life 18:40 is not hidden in Christ. 18:42 The worst thing for those who are living today 18:46 is not your loved one who is in Jesus, 18:48 sleeping in Jesus, 18:50 because the next time they wake up 18:52 will be when Jesus calls, you know? 18:55 So death... 18:57 You know, I said, you know, God, 19:00 can either heal her or He can put her asleep. 19:03 And in His sovereignty and His perfect wisdom 19:06 and in His unconditional everlasting love, 19:09 He decided to put her asleep. 19:10 Yes. 19:12 So is that how you've been able to cope with this, 19:15 is by knowing that one day, 19:18 Jesus is going to return and she's going to wake up 19:23 and be caught up in the clouds with Christ? 19:28 That is how I face one day at a time every day. 19:32 Yeah, yeah. 19:33 But, you know, 19:35 mommy died on Wednesday July 28th 1:40 PM. 19:39 Wow. 19:40 And like I said, she breathed her last breath 19:42 on the back of this hand. 19:43 And by the way, Jason, I still feel that breath 19:45 being breathed on my hand. 19:47 And so that was, you know, 1:40 PM Wednesday. 19:52 I didn't sleep Wednesday night. 19:54 When I went out to the living room 19:57 where we would usually worship, I saw her... 20:01 I saw the Bible, the hymnal, 20:03 and the quarterly, the lesson book 20:07 that we worshiped with 24 hours before. 20:10 And when I tell you, Jason, I lost it, I lost it. 20:14 Yeah. 20:15 I totally lost it. 20:17 And I would say I lost it that Thursday morning, 20:22 and I did not find it 20:24 until the Tuesday before her funeral, 20:26 which was the week after. 20:29 And very quickly, I want to tell you, 20:32 you know, that experience, 20:33 you know, that Sunday 20:34 before her funeral, that Sunday night. 20:36 I know I would've shared it with you. 20:37 That Sunday night, I realized that I was numb 20:40 from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. 20:43 I was walking and I wasn't feeling the ground 20:46 under my feet. 20:48 I was driving to have a private viewing, 20:51 you know, 'cause they... 20:53 In the funeral home, you can have a private viewing 20:54 before the funeral a day before. 20:56 I was driving, and I was speeding. 20:58 I didn't know that I was speeding. 20:59 It's my cousin had to tell me, Ricki, you were driving fast. 21:04 And in Trinidad, 21:05 the speed limit is 100 kilometers per hour. 21:08 And I was going 130, 140 and I did not know, 21:13 because I was not feeling the accelerator 21:15 under my foot. 21:17 I was holding the steering driving 21:21 and I was not feeling the steering wheel in my hands. 21:24 That's how numb I was. Wow. 21:26 And I went to the private viewing 21:29 and I went to see her. 21:33 And I cried. 21:36 Yeah. I cried, I cried. 21:38 You know, the one thing that I miss most 21:42 is being able to talk to her, 21:43 because I feel as if now I have no one to talk to, you know? 21:46 And I shouldn't say I feel as if I don't have anyone 21:49 to talk to on the level 21:50 at which mommy and I spoke at, you know? 21:53 So I miss talking to her. 21:55 And so I had my final talk with her 21:57 and I played with her ears and I played her hands. 22:00 And you know, she wanted to burn with her Bible 22:03 because she was cremated. 22:05 She wanted to cremate with her Bible of 28 years. 22:08 And, Jason, when I placed the Bible 22:14 in mommy's hand, 22:16 God reminded me. 22:18 He said, "Ricki, how many nights 22:20 did you have to stay up with your mother 22:22 because she couldn't sleep?" 22:24 And you know, Jason, I would've shared with you sometimes, 22:27 you know, mommy didn't have a good night 22:28 or she didn't have a good couple of days. 22:29 Yes. 22:31 And He said, 22:34 "How many nights did your mother wake up 22:37 because she had chest pains or she couldn't breathe? 22:40 How many nights did your mother wake up 22:42 because she had a nauseous feeling? 22:45 Your mother didn't sleep sometimes for days." 22:47 Sometimes, Jason, three days would pass 22:49 and mommy would sleep like only two or three hours 22:51 for the three days. 22:53 And I was up with her right through. 22:54 I was working, right? 22:56 I was pastoring, doing 100% of my duties, 23:00 but still having to come home and deal with mommy. 23:03 And He told me, He whispered in my ears 23:07 that your mother's finally getting the sleep 23:10 that eluded her all this while. 23:13 And the next time your mother wakes up, 23:16 it will not be because of pain. 23:18 Pain will not wake your mother up. 23:20 Not being able to breathe will not wake your mother up. 23:23 The next time your mother wakes up, 23:25 I will wake her up to carry her home. 23:27 Amen. Amen. 23:29 Jason, and when I placed that Bible in my mother's hand, 23:33 I've preached on it, 23:35 I have told other people it, I've done the Greek. 23:38 But for the first time in my life, 23:42 I understood what it meant when the Bible said 23:44 that God is going to give you a peace 23:47 which passes all understanding. 23:49 Yes. 23:50 And the same hand that God must have used 23:54 to wipe His own tears when His Son died, 23:58 is the same hand, 23:59 I think, He used to wipe my tears. 24:01 Wow. 24:02 And that's why I told you I lost it 24:04 that Thursday morning. 24:06 I didn't find it until that Tuesday 24:08 when I saw her, 24:09 because God placed in me a peace. 24:11 What gets me through every day 24:14 is the grace and strength of God to allow me 24:17 to face each day, one day at a time. 24:19 Yes. 24:20 And that is what I want to let everyone know 24:22 who is watching. 24:23 I want to let you know 24:25 that there is no moment of the day, Jason, 24:28 that I do not feel broken, that I do not feel sad, 24:32 that I do not feel like a lost little boy in a park 24:36 with no one around him. 24:37 There is not a moment of the day 24:40 that I do not feel out of place in this world, 24:43 that I do not feel dark. 24:45 But there is also not a moment of the day 24:48 that I do not feel God's grace and strength giving me 24:52 the strength to face each day, one day at a time. 24:55 Amen. 24:57 And so I just wanted to say 24:58 if you are facing something, right? 25:01 If you are facing something, facing a loss, 25:04 it's okay to feel like this. 25:06 But let God give you that grace. 25:08 That is how I've been facing every day, 25:10 every morning when I wake up. 25:12 I thank God when I realized 25:14 I was giving the breath of life. 25:15 I thank God for it. 25:17 And I ask Him, "God, give me the grace to face today." 25:21 Because the thought of facing the rest of my life 25:24 on this world without my mother is going to cripple me 25:27 and it's going to make me fold in two. 25:29 So all I'm doing, Jason, 25:31 is taking everything one day at a time. 25:35 It is difficult, you know. Yes. 25:37 I don't want folks to hear 25:38 how I'm speaking and think that it's, 25:40 you know, I'm okay, and it's all right, 25:42 and everything's going to be fine. 25:44 That hole inside of you, that void, it will never go. 25:48 But what is going to happen is once you put your faith in, 25:51 once you put your trust in God and His Word, 25:53 He is going to give you the grace is, 25:55 is going to give you the grace to face every day, 25:59 one day at a time. 26:00 And so to specifically answer your question, 26:02 it is that hope that burns within my heart 26:05 that keeps me going. 26:07 Because I used to always tell folks that 26:10 I have a Jesus to meet in heaven. 26:12 But now I no longer just have a Jesus to meet, 26:15 I have a mother to see. 26:17 And so it is keeping that hope fresh alive, 26:21 that keeps me going day after day. 26:23 Amen. That's powerful. 26:25 You know, I've communicated with you for a while. 26:29 And you've really shared some of these spiritual gems 26:31 and I thought it would be very important for you 26:34 to share with our viewing audience. 26:36 We're running low on time, 26:38 but I want to open it up for that one final thought 26:41 that you may have that you want to share. 26:44 Well, there is something I really wanted to say, 26:45 so I want to try to fit those two in one. 26:49 When it was three weeks when she died, 26:51 Wednesday to Wednesday, I woke up, 26:53 realized it was three weeks. 26:55 And I said, "Wow, 26:57 today is three weeks since mommy died." 26:59 My God told me, "Ricki, son, today is not three weeks 27:03 since your mother died. 27:05 Today is three weeks closer 27:07 to when you shall see her again." 27:08 Wow. 27:10 And so for me, Jason, 27:11 I am not counting up on my mother. 27:12 He said, "Don't count up. 27:14 It's a countdown." 27:15 And so the day of this recording, 27:17 it's 12 weeks to the day. 27:18 And so it's not 12 weeks 27:20 since she died or since she fell asleep, 27:22 it's 12 weeks closer to when I shall see her again. 27:26 Friends, time is limited, but that's all I want to say. 27:30 Don't look to this as a count up. 27:34 As time passes, it's actually closer 27:37 to when you shall see your loved one again. 27:38 Count down. 27:39 Thank you so much for coming on 27:41 and sharing in your transparency. 27:42 And I want to thank you for joining us. 27:44 Until next time, may God richly bless you. |
Revised 2021-12-09