September 16: Joy Comes in the Morning

 Joy Comes in the Morning 

Key Text: “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may
endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Dr. Terry-Ann Robinson,
 Kings SDA Church 

My grandmother was the best. Every week, she walked with candy in her purse to
church. As I walked past her in church, she would stretch her hand, and in perfect sync,
a mint would transfer from her hand to mine without anybody noticing. I got my favorite
ones every sabbath. The small white one with red lines around it. Not the tough one, the
one that melts in your mouth. 
She was a dressmaker. She not only made regular dresses, but she also made several
wedding dresses. Huge fancy ones that required her to sit for days sewing by hand
beautiful pieces of lace appliqué. Some dresses were so big that they could not fit in the
sewing room. She laid them in the living room or on the bed, ensuring she got the
perfect layout to add the pearls. 
Many of the wedding dresses she sewed were for women who wanted to get baptized
but were living with their male partners. She would make the dress and get mommy and
some other ladies from church to be bridesmaids. She would set up the whole wedding
so that they could get it right with God.
I remember so many of those weddings. Mommy was a permanent bridesmaid, and if
they had no children, I would be an automatic minibride. 
Her pin cushion was red velvet. It had a pentagon shape. I believe I intended it to be a
circle, but it didn’t matter. I made it in my year 9 Technology class and gave it to her as
a gift. Even after I became an adult, my grandmother still had that pin cushion; she
refused to replace it. 

She sang the most beautiful alto note. But you best not mess with her because that
same mouth would fix you very quickly. 
When I moved to another country, we talked frequently on the phone. But after a while,
she became ill. She hated the hospital, but she had to be admitted. My parents told me
that she was insisting that I visit. 

On Friday, May 4, 2018, I went to visit her just for the weekend. She was upset that they
had to cut off her leg. We chatted about upcoming family activities and what she thought
about some decisions some family members were making. Of course, she had to share
her opinion. 

On Sunday evening, May 6, I left the hospital and went straight to the airport. The
following morning, as I got to work, I got the call that she had passed. Later that week, I
found out I was pregnant. 

I felt robbed, and honestly, I still do feel robbed. I didn’t get a chance to tell my
grandmother that I was pregnant. She didn’t get the opportunity to meet my daughter,
who is as quick-witted as her. She didn’t have the opportunity to see me cross the
graduation stage for my doctoral degree. So many other accomplishments she did not
get an opportunity to see. 

I am eagerly looking forward to the day when death will die. Jesus will burst through the
eastern sky to get His people. Ohhh, what a day that will be. I plan to see my
grandmother again, but more than anything else, I plan to see Jesus. 
I am sure you have someone you are looking forward to seeing again too. But you must
be ready. You must allow Jesus to take full control of your life. The road may be rough,
but hold on, my child, joy comes in the morning. All our weeping will only last a little
while longer. 

Prayer
Our Father, we look forward to the day when we will no longer need to deal with pain,
heartache, sorrow, or death. Until then, please help us prepare for your soon return. We
wait with great anticipation. May all persons reading this devotional be able to say, this
is our Lord we have long waited for Him. Amen.