Back in the early years of our marriage, I wasn’t too smart. I thought I was, but events proved otherwise. With Jim having one more year of college before starting seminary, we talked about children. His grocery-
checking income was slim, so we decided to wait until his third and last year of seminary before having kids—three years hence.
The joke is, by that time, we’d had two children and a miscarriage!
So much for our skill in family planning.
Shortly after I realized I was with child—a scant 3 months post-wedding—I remember sitting on our bed, thinking deeply. I’m pregnant. Birth-control mistakes were made, but I can’t do anything about that. I HAVE to have this baby. No getting around it.
Once we adjusted to the idea, we got on quite well. I even taught my last horsemanship class for Wheaton College. The birthing was hard—two weeks late and six days of labor, but Eric Jon came forth the night before Mother’s day and has brought much joy into our lives.
The day I was diagnosed with stage-4 lung cancer was another such 
moment of truth. A death sentence, and I HAVE to go through it. I had two choices: rapid or less rapid. The less rapid is giving me more time to care for Jim and get my affairs in order, but the End is inevitable.
But what an End! As Eric brought joy, so being in the arms of the Lord will be JOY writ large. Dying does mean leaving a lot of friends and family behind, but think what heaven means—seeing even MORE friends and family—whole and alive in a world far more REAL than the one we currently live in.
Think of it this way: We started out in a dark, murky womb and were pushed—ready or not—into the world as we know it. Our next “birth,” however, will be GLORIOUS! The Best is yet to come.
“So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.”
Permission granted by artist Robert Berran
Each of us has an end date. Are you ready for yours? Please share your story, either below or egus@me.com
Two thirds unplanned!
Ellie, You are such an inspiration. My father wanted to have me aborted, but my mother chose to give me life. May the Lord continue to bless you to be able to write so that I (we) can continue to learn from you to His glory. Love in Christ, Doug & Judy
Dear Sweet Ellie, I love how your legacy will live on with your Author works. Your fine books will continue to echo your name with every page others read and turn. I wish I could give you a hug, so remotely feel our embrace and love from your Virginia Cousins.
Liz, Don, Lauren, Elle, Donna, (The Hawkers) and Betsy Gustafson
Yes! And remember, a weight of glory is awaiting you — and all who die in Jesus!
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Dear Ellie,
As you move through the final stages of this life on earth, your insights have touched our hearts.
As the hymn says “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory!”
In Christ, Tim & Shirley
Remember that chorus ” I’m going to heaven , can’t wait . Going to see Jesus , can’t wait “???!!!!! The peace that you share gives hope to all who will soon be taking that journey . You are writing the final chapter of your earthly journey . Wish you could blog from heaven!! Praying always . Deb Berlin
Amen Ellie! I fully agree. We have many reminders that these bodies are temporary, and many trusted promises of the glory of what is to come. The sweet gift of everlasting life is ours already through faith and by the grace of Jesus Christ, Like you, I am longing to see Him, and I know by His grace that soon I will. See you there, my friend. You remain in my prayers.
A striking and memorable analogy that will help all of us who love Christ as we seek to tell others about Him and His Gospel! Thank you, Ellie. What you said instantly reminded me of Psalm 139:16, where King David wrote, “In Your Book were written all the days fashioned for me when as yet there were none of them” and also Job 14:5–“A person’s days are determined: You, God, have decreed the number of his [or her] months and have set limits he cannot exceed.” My Johnny and I recently fulfilled a long ambition to see Gettysburg with our own eyes. One thing I learned is that those verses encouraged Civil War generals on both sides.
Hi, Ellie, I am struggling with a bad cold. I think of the verses where Paul said he wanted to go and be with Christ but it was also needful that he stay on earth and do what God had called him to do. This cold makes me want to be with Christ where we will never be sick again, but it is needful at this point in time to be here to minister to my family for whom I am care-giver. I am so thankful for my salvation in Jesus Christ that ensures that when my troubles are over here on earth I can rejoice with Christ my Savior and all those who have gone on before me. The song writer says “With eternity’s values in view” and so I try to live each day for Him who gave His life for me and in the process gave me wonderful friends like you.
Ellie, now that I’m old, I can look back over my life and see how God was working for my good even when it didn’t feel so good at the time.
The mini-golf game that I didn’t want to attend is where I met my amazing husband. The daughter we didn’t plan became the joy of our life. Life events that humbled me and brought me to my knees led me to Jesus and salvation. I could go on and on with stories that help me trust that God really does have a perfect plan for my life… and so I will trust him with my death as well.
But that won’t stop me from asking him to keep you with us as you continue to encourage us in our faith!
Thank you for continuing to share what is on your heart and helping us to remember the eternal perspective and all we have to look forward to in Jesus!
Love you! Sue💕
Thank you for sharing with us. Praying for you and your family.
Hi Ellie, I really enjoyed this post. I’ve followed your story since you made your announcement. You have a wonderful attitude and spirit, the kind that comes through both experience but more importantly, from understanding God’s Will for your life.
About ten years ago, I had severe medical problems and was slowly dying. The Lord blessed and through a couple of surgeries, my ills were rectified and I’m doing well again. But for almost ten years, I was in constant pain. At one point, I was on too many pain medications, to the point it was affecting my judgment and all areas of my life. The only way I got through that dark chapter in my life was to get closer to the Lord through prayer and submission to His Will. So, in a small way, I understand part of what you are experiencing.
I include you in my prayers each day and I am glad you will meet the Lord in peace. That is what we all should aspire to.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Sincerely,
Allen
May God bless you, sweet sister. You have been an encouragement to me!!
Hi Ellie, my husband has been so blessed recently by Randy Alcorn’s book Heaven that we are going to do this study in our life group! He pulls together all the verses AND scholarship and says it’s utterly eye-opening; more like a new restored earth than the traditional celestial images of angels singing… God bless you and your journey, and as always, thank-you for sharing.
Thank you so much Ellie. I fully concur with you on our past predicaments and experiences. With the true diagnosis given by doctors as pertains to our health in this world, our temporary stay is in line and confirmation of what the Scriptures attests. That, “The years of our life are threescore and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.(Psalm 90: 10). Job also attests to this when he said, “”Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.( Job 14:1). But there is life beyond the grave. Heaven is there for us. Our lives there is forever and ever. Paul alluded to this, when He said that,” Our citizenship is in Heaven, and from there, we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ(Philippians 3:20). May we live lives pleasing to God always. We love you Ellie, Almighty God is with you.
Great thoughts for all of us to consider, dear Ellie! Much love to you!
Hi Ellie, I love your posts, they are always so full of inspiration and leaves me with so many things to think about, lots of truths and things of the real world. I think I have to say I have to be ready for whenever my time comes, as ready as I’ll ever be. We don’t know the day , the time or when our Lord is going to call us, so we just have to be ready. God Bless you my Beautiful friend from whom I have learned so much from . I Love you my friend. Praying for you and your family.