Sara has done a great job describing Sharon’s declining health and some of the precious moments we all had together. This is my Testimony!!!
Yes, it was a walk in the valley of the shadow of death, but it didn’t take long for God to remind me that like Psalm 23:4 says, “Yea, 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.” Though it felt like a hopeless decent, I knew God would get us through.
Sara had put up family pictures on the wall to help brighten the hospital room and Sharon’s spirit. And one day I was with Sharon, she sat up and with both arms extended she cried out, “I want to be that happy again” while she was pointing to this picture of Theo on top of his dad’s shoulders. I said to her, “Baby you will. We just have to get through this valley and God’s going to help us. We’ve got hundreds of people praying for you, we are going to get through this.” And then the next day, no good news. And then the next day feeling worse and no good news. Each day she was slipping away.
One evening I got a text from my sister with a reference to Psalm 46. Verse 5 drew me in. “God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved, God will help here, Just at the break of dawn.”
As I laid there one night contemplating this verses the Love of God began to overwhelm me. And “Even though the earth be removed and the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” God was in the midst of her. She shall not be moved. He was not looking down on her from Heaven. He was not close by listening. He was in the midst of her and everything she was going through, And nothing would or could move her from Him. “She shall not be moved!!!” So I thanked God that He was then, and He is now and forever, merciful, and gracious, and faithful, and loving, and kind.
Then what did the 2nd part of verse 5 mean? “God will help her, just at the break of dawn?”
Did that mean that God was going to answer all our prayers the next day or one of these days? Or did it mean He wasn’t going to grant us our requests and heal her, and the break of dawn meant something else?
It was there that evening I said “God I give her to you, Your will be done.” Because I knew He had her no matter what.
Sharon doesn’t live on just in memories, and photos, and in our hearts. She lives on in the presence of her LORD and God and Savior, Jesus Christ!!!
Naples is famous for its sunsets like the one depicted on the wall here. But this is not a sunset for her or for me. Naples will always be remembered for the “Break of Dawn” for just as He promised me in His word, He was in the midst of her. Nothing could move her from Him. She was His and she is His.
I’ve known her for 50 years and been married for 41. I miss her more than words could describe. Somehow, I’m comforted and strengthened by our loving God. God the Holy Spirit is our comforter and was and is in the midst of her. And though we spent two weeks in the valley of the shadow of death, where I learned to say “Yea and Rejoice, though I walk through the valley,” We came out the other side. And I saw HER prayer answered. Just like the pictures of little Theo on the shoulders of his father, full of joy and happiness. Just like a little Child, God helped her onto His shoulders and her famous laugh echoed back into the valley as the Lord carried her home.
And Yes, It was literally “The Break of Dawn.” As her heart took its final beat, I moved to the window and wept, and the horizon began to lighten.
I was with her and this is my testimony: For Sharon May Wadsworth, a Child of God, a new day had dawned.
Sara and George, those words were beautiful to read. As heartbroken as you must be, I am glad that you are at peace. She will live forever in your hearts.
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