In His Presence and Mine


On Saturday, February 21th, 2009,  I witnessed a glorious event. My sister, Denise, was  administered a slow morphine drip to allow comfort as she fought her final painful hours with cancer. From 2pm in her hospital bed and until her death on earth, she was gesturing with her left hand as if removing something from the tip of her tongue using her fore finger and thumb. She would then follow by another gesture of drinking from a tiny cup using her thumb, fore and middle finger of her right hand.  She would repeat the same procedure sporadically throughout the day.

I asked my mother what Denise was doing as we observed her every action. My mother said that she did not know.

I asked her husband what she was doing. He stated that he did not know but added
that Denise started performing the gestures on Friday night. He said that Denise would motion
as if breaking something into tiny pieces with her right and left hand finger tips. She would
then eat from the pieces.

I remained by her bedside while closely watching Denise in confusion as she sporadically repeated the gestures with her right and left hand. I asked her if she had something on her tongue. She shook her head as if to say “No”.  I asked her to stick out her tongue so that I could see. My mother and I both looked inside and saw nothing. I asked Denise if she were thirsty as I handed her the paper cup with water, she shook her head as if to say “No”.

After hours of gesturing, Denise passed over at 8:20pm. I walked outside filled with sorrow.
I lifted my head toward the dark and starry sky. I prayed to God "I know that she is up there with You...please tell me that she is up there with You". God spoke to me and said "She has been in my presence all day". Immediately, I felt an overwhelming comfort as her gesturing became obvious and clear. Denise had been taking communion in God's presence and in mine.

I know that all things of God are for our good. Denise is in a better place as her after life is with God. I am in a better walk of life because, through the eyes of my sister, I am a witness and have been in the presence of Lord.


Submitted by: Bernadette Foster
Dedicated to: Cassandra Denise Foster Johnson
          July 24, 1960 - February 25, 2009
A Sister's Story of Loss and Victory