A Wonderful Mother in Law

At approximately 7:30 PM July 21 my Mother in Law reached a lifelong goal. She met Jesus face to face. Hazel Guriel was born on July 2, 1916, in Perry County, Illinois. She was the mother of Karen Mayer Sweeten and Toni Smith. Gary and Karen have two children Julie Sweeten Knispel and Timothy Sweeten, four great grand children, Jacob and Lily Knispel and Jack and Emma Sweeten for whom she created the name for them to call her: Greatie. It is an appropriate name.

Hazel spent her last days on earth in the Mason Christian Village where the entire staff showed her such love and grace that her life was extended by months and maybe years. From the Doctors and Medical Team to Nurses, Aides, Food Staff, Housekeeping Staff, Activities Department, Chaplain and Administration along with Hospice Hazel was enveloped in the soft comfort of human nurture and spiritual power of a Spirit filled community. She fought against heart disease and had victory, combated cancer and finally stopped fighting against death to meet Jesus.

The last days of Hazel Guriel were spent with Toni, Karen, David and Julia Knispel, Tim and Shelley Sweeten and a loving family of grand kids and great grand kids. They were joined by many from the Mason Christian Village staff and friends in the community such as Oscar and Doris Perkins and their son Jeff and grandson Aaron. Her last day on this earth was a wonderful day of singing, praising the Lord, telling Hazel stories mixed with hugs, kisses and statements of affection. She was a fighter that overcame extreme poverty, loss of three husbands and managed to be a single mother while running a small business. The combination of faith, hope and love with music and remembrances gave her permission to stop fighting and open her arms to the everlasting God and Father.

What we experienced personally was much like what we might see in a movie or read in a novel as a perfect way to meet our Maker. It was a scene that matched perfectly the research on how a family best faces the end of our journey on earth and begins a new journey in heaven. There were tears of laughter and tears of grief. Praise to God for 94 years of perseverance on this earth and shouts of anticipation for what is to come.

I have seen research on the power of touch, affirmation, nurture and worship to heal, release and strengthen. But never before had I experienced it so greatly in person. I was absent from my parents when they met Christ and was never privileged to be in such a warm group of worshiping people when the end came to a fellow traveler. It was a touch of heaven on earth.

Hazel was healed but not cured. We often mistake healing and being cured. There is no cure for dying. All of us will die sooner or later. However, God often heals us of emotional, physical, spiritual and relational troubles. The last four years Hazel spent at Mason Christian Village was an almost constant series of healing even when she was fighting cancer, pain and fear.

Thank God for the community of love and power at Mason Christian Village. It lives up to its name.