Download - The Perfect Wisdom Web

Be Not Afraid ReadinessHow in the world were we going to put on this braveface?”Xaverie saw her illness as a call to give up her loveof life and her family for the greater love of God, andher years of daily surrender to Christ gave her strengthto make this new, greater sacrifice. Naturally she lovedher children dearly, but she felt she now had anothertask – to ready herself for dying – and she did not clingto them emotionally. When arrangements were madefor a neighbor to take over their care – something mostmothers would have found difficult – she accepted thehelp gratefully, and thanked the woman from herheart.Incredibly, she never once expressed any anxietyabout the future, and from the time she became illuntil her death, no one heard her breathe a word ofcomplaint or saw her shed a tear.One day when my wife and I came to see her, sheasked for the laying on of hands, a blessing describedin James 5, which reads, “Are any among you sick?They should call for the elders of the church and havethem pray over them, anointing them with oil in thename of the Lord.”A few days later, in answer to this request, we held aservice for Xaverie. The gathering was quietly hopeful,but it was also heartrending. Everyone present was0