Facing Eternity – Healing with Joy

Living Ready

Joy Le Page Smith — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:31:47 +0000

Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith, MA

In my teens, twenties and thirties, I learned to “live ready.” Ready to die. It was often on my mind, yet I was not anxious. Afraid, yes, as it was “the unknown.” Most of us want certainty . . . which life does not afford us.

There were many hospital stays due to having a tendency to form blood clots in my legs and abdomen. From age 18, these would travel periodically into my heart and lungs, bringing me close to death. Plus, my intestines seemed to have a grudge against me. Adhesions would form, sticking my intestines together. This caused numerous surgeries, which in turn caused more adhesions to form. I was in the worst of all emergencies at age 35, when blood clots had severely damaged my lungs, once again. However, a newly invented surgery “saved the day,” as regards to having any blood clots enter my heart and lungs. I began to get better—and granted there was much prayer. Many people were pulling for me to be able to live and raise the three small sons God had given me and the nuns of the hospital’s Pastoral Care Department were with me often.

I did well after my vena cava vascular surgery. Amazingly well; celebrating the idea of long term existence became my dream.

Today, many years later, I am living the dream . . . looking back with amazement at having been given decades of more life. My children are adults and I have grandchildren. My husband and I have celebrated many anniversaries—and once our “nest” was empty, I felt “called” to prepare for ministering to sick and dying people. After gaining a master’s degree, I attended Clinical Pastoral Education in a teaching hospital, in order to gain Board certification as a clinical chaplain. My life experience has prepared me for helping people who are facing grave uncertainties.

Looking back on our lives, Gary and I realize that because of my many hospital stays, both of our career paths changed to health care. He went back to Boise State University majoring in radiology, and recently retired as a MRI technologist.

My work, in part, these days includes having “Thoughtful Conversations” with individuals helping them understand the importance of making “end of life” choices. This includes creating a will, as well as to carefully document what care they do or do not want when death is pending.

While I am with people who are in hospice or hospital settings, knowing they might die, I help them look at what else they want while still here. Actor Gary Sinise wrote in his book, Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service, a premise to which I adhere, “Each person on this planet is here for a purpose . . . That purpose is to care for other people and to help this world become a better place through service to others.”

In the past, within my work as a hospice chaplain, most patients I saw were given very little time to finish their life’s journey. Part of that work included looking at their relationships, and when possible, making peace with those in which there was still pain. We worked together on forgiveness and releasing the toxicity of resentment and bitterness, where this existed. In many cases, we prayed together, making the path to healing through forgiveness much easier.

Another way of getting ready came through thinking about “What one thing feels unfinished?” This took time for most people. They needed to reflect on and identify that “one thing.” In my work within a hospice setting there were a number of instances in which the person lived long enough to meet that goal. But even working toward it finds a person dying with the joy of doing something worthy of their last hours or days on earth. And they die in peace.

Another aspect of living ready comes as a person ponders, “What happens after death?” As a chaplain, I see clearly that most people need love and acceptance; advice is best used with great caution. Listening is a skill a chaplain must develop to truly be effective with patients. Sometimes people, when at death’s door, ask questions like,” How can I be ready to die?” Or “I’ve not been religious. Help me know how to be ready to meet God.”

My response is to “Just talk to God. Tell Him about your struggle with wondering: ‘Is God real, or not?’ Tell God you want to see Him and talk with Him in person. Ask, ‘What do I need to do in order for that to happen?’ Then listen.”

Life is a mystery. Not one of us knows how much time we will have on earth. My life experience revealed the fact that a huge advantage comes through “Living Ready” for death. If possible, ignoring the inevitable is not something to do right up to the end. We may not be conscious at that point.

You may want to separate death from life, preferring not to think about this journey’s end; but there is no doubt at all that death is part of each person’s life. And it can be a blessing due to becoming a time in which the comfort and peacefulness of faith and remembrances can bring a meaningful transition.

Are You Afraid of Death? (I Was)

Joy Le Page Smith — Sat, 24 May 2025 22:25:27 +0000

By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith, MA

I had a hard time staying alive between the ages of 13-35. First, I had encephalitis with high temperatures for many days with sleeping sickness, at age 13; then at 18, I started forming blood clots in my legs and abdomen. There were many episodes of blood clots breaking loose and travelling into my heart, landing in my lungs. At age 35, too many of these small clots had changed the landscape of my lungs. A surgeon and a cardiologist stood at my bedside and explained my chances of living beyond this point were virtually nil unless they used a new surgical procedure wherein they would screen off my vena cava, that large blood vessel that carries the blood from the lower part of my body to the heart and then to my lungs. Since this type of surgery was unique and innovative to the medical field, little hope was offered for a good outcome.

I was told I may die during or after the surgery. Or, if I survived my legs could turn blue and large like old fashion piano legs. As mother of three teenage sons, ages 13, 15 and 17, I decided the surgery was my only option. For years, my blood had been thinned by taking Coumadin, or Heparin to control clotting episodes. Now, I had three days to wait for my blood to be thick enough for surgery. The question was would I live three more days.

My Christian faith was strong. I knew if I died heaven would be my next destination. Strangely, what I feared was being placed in a grave. Through my years of dealing with pulmonary emboli (clots in lungs) I had prayed, “God, please don’t let me die during the winter.” I knew the climate where we lived would mean being buried in a cold grave, topped with snow.

During the three days of waiting for the surgery, I had a vision. I saw a dark, heavy-tempered gate with the word “DEATH” at its top. I was afraid, trembling in my bed when I could suddenly see the opposite side of that gate. It was a large pearl from heaven’s side. A “little girl” danced up to the opening and said, “Just step across!” She looked with a great smile and beaconed me, saying, “It is just one step.” Although she coached me several times, I could not take that step. But, this vision ended my fear of the grave. I realized I was not my body and that I will have only to move through the gate when death came.

I survived from the life-saving surgery and recovered. One day while driving my car, I suddenly saw a part of that vision, once again, and suddenly realized something about the little girl. It was as if I was being divinely told, “That was your daughter”—for I knew instantly this was true. Years earlier, I had a miscarriage between my first and second sons. Nearly three decades had passed when my heart prompted me to receive the truth: The vision had allowed the little girl I wanted, yet could not hold in my womb, to minister to me that night when I was so close to death.

From then on, I knew more surely there was a heaven—and this precious little girl is waiting for me to “cross over.”

The beautiful part is that I was given many more years, as the surgery was highly successful. I lived to raise my family and to enjoy a long, loving relationship with my dear husband, Gary Smith.

I am now getting close to the time when people normally die. I know death is coming, yet I have no fear at all. It’s like knowing a trip is around the corner. However, on this trip I cannot take anything with me, not even the costly crowns on my teeth. So, I pray to do all possible to become all that God knew I could be when He first saw me conceived. I also believe none of us get to be entirely finished—totally ready to meet our Maker. We have flawed natures, which most likely we will be trying to conquer when we draw our last breath.

The wonderful news is that the Lord Jesus has forgiven our sins. Upon repentance of them, we are washed to the core—cleansed, ready for eternity.

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11).

Are we ignoring a “Stop Sign?”

Joy Le Page Smith — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 17:42:12 +0000

By Joy Le Page Smith, MA, BCC

The Bible helps us know God has expectations of us. Whether or not we follow those expectations makes quite a lot of difference as to how life will play out. The Bible also makes sure the fact is clear that our personal existence here is not permanent. What else is clearly delineated is that this beautiful blue globe we live on will also come to a definite end.

Halley’s Bible Handbook by Henry H. Halley (Zondervan, 25^th Edition) is a classic used by many students of the Bible. I have used it as my “ruler” for measuring how well I am comprehending what I am reading. Recently, while reading the Book of Isaiah, Halley’s referencing brought a renewed interest in God’s promise of a “new heaven and new earth” that is to come . . . as a legacy to those who stake their trust in God and His plan for redeeming our souls through Jesus Christ.

This particular reading of Isaiah coincides with recent news accounts in national newspapers addressing the current concern about the earth getting hotter. The question arises–does this happenstance correlate with Scripture’s numerous passages that informs readers of the “end times” and, of a “new heaven and earth.”

Jesus taught his disciples how to watch for the signs of the times that will be seen in the sky. A good read on this is in the book of Matthew, which holds a promise onto which believers tightly hold in chapter 24, verse 35: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

We don’t have to know all the answers when we have the Holy Spirit abiding in our hearts, guiding our paths as we read Scripture and pray daily. That Spirit within is Christ’s very own Spirit, given to indwell those of us who have put our trust in Him. He comforts us and gives peace as we take the journey to its end.

Wondering comes easily these days when we see vivid changes in our climate now addressed in studies completed as recently as last week, June 19. Are these shouting a warning of “Stop what you are doing!”

Scriptures within the Bible makes mention in various places the earth referencing the truth that the existence of the Earth will end . . . additionally that it will become extremely hot—even to burn with fire. Jesus promised to return to gather His people. In 2 Peter 3:10, we are assured that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” Then, verse 17, encourages readers with, “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

It seems that common sense should tell us humans to beware during a time when our “foot print” on the globe is definitely playing a major role in heating up the earth. Astronomers and cosmologists, the experts on this, point to the use of fossil fuels saying these, by way of their data, are at the fulcrum of this increased heat throughout Earth’s atmosphere. Personally, there isn’t a lot that we can do to stave off what is causing climate change. But in case we can make this a better, safer—more “breathe-able” place to live until the new heaven and new earth comes to be—let’s do what we can to help our policy makers seek to take care of this great gift we call “The Earth.”

For more information on most recent client studies mentioned above along and what physicists, astronomers and cosmologist are saying go to https://healing-with-joy.com/testing-candidates/

About author: Joy Le Page Smith is a Board certified clinical chaplain and author of four books. There are over a hundred helpful articles –FREE–for people who are struggling with varied difficulties. Find these along with her books at Healing-with-Joy.com Copy articles if you wish, while crediting this website. Also –VIEW FREE–children’s book at website. WordPress shows people are reading Joy Le Page Smith’s blogs in 28 countries.

What’s next after this? What will eternity be like?

Joy Le Page Smith — Thu, 23 May 2024 16:11:18 +0000

By Le Page Smith, MA, Board certified chaplain

Take a pencil or pen, make a circle. Now make another and another creating more and more circles around your initial circle. Do this over and over until you want to stop. But, give it a “go” for a number of times. Now, look at your drawing as an illustration about eternity. It is never ending. Realistically, making circles to truly illustrate eternity could never end. But you get the idea.

Now look at the space within your initial circle. Draw a piece within it, as if the circle is a pie. Cogitate the truth here: Life on earth is simply a “small slice” of eternity’s never-ending existence.” Yet, what we do with our time and talents while here on planet Earth will affect what eternity will be like for us. We are, in effect, fueling our eternity before we get there when we find God’s truth and guidance for us while living out the little bit of time we have here.

In 2 Corinthians 12:2–4, the Apostle Paul describes a time when he was caught up to the third heaven. In 1 Corinthians 2: 9, he wrote, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them through His Spirit.”

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If interested, go to https://healing-with-joy.com/yes-there-are-gains-in-going-with-god/ This link extends a list of Scriptures from the Bible which show the amazing journey God has in store for believers while living here on earth–plus assurances of eternal life.

Author info. Joy Le Page Smith is a Board certified clinical chaplain and author of four books. VIEW FREE- – her children’s book titled: The Little Mountain Goat Who Was Afraid of High Places available at Healing-with-Joy.com Her website allows readers multiple helps in their journey through life.

Learning to Hear God’s Voice| By Joy Le Page Smith, MA, Board certified chaplain

Suicide—what can we say?

Joy Le Page Smith — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 17:26:41 +0000

By Joy Le Page Smith, MA, BCC

Years back Gary and I hired a man with great tree expertise to trim the trees about our home. We chatted frequently and he became a friend while beautifying our trees. He told of his “past life” as an executive with an office in a high rise within a big city.

While sitting at his desk one day he looked from his 7th floor window and saw a tree-trimmer at work. He thought, “That’s the life I want to live.” So after studying how best to do this earthy art, he started this new endeavor of trimming trees–and became superbly good at it.

Then a disabling accident found him depending on a doctor’s prescription for pain medications. He functioned well although everything about life was hard for him. Then came the time when opioids gained national attention due to their overuse by millions of people whose doctors were not closely monitoring the use of them. Many doctors, as well as our friend’s doctor, started warning their patients, as much as possible, about their prescription usage.

Our friend, now living on a “minimal amount” of the opioids as compared to what his doctor had permitted previously, found it far from adequate for managing his constant, agonizing pain. He called me, “Joy, I think as a chaplain you may be able to answer a question for me. What do you think God will do in my case if I take my life?”

I felt tremendous compassion for his plight. Then, without hesitation I told him that we have a merciful God, a loving God—and added that I believe we are to see our challenges on earth as opportunities to grow in our strength and through God’s help to be able to handle them. Yet, there are instances wherein a person has formidable pain and their back is against the wall to the point they can no longer tolerate living and breathing here on earth . . . some do make that final, momentous choice to end their life. Who can know if in that veracious moment the person takes his or her cause to the throne of God in prayer. I would like to believe that our Creator comprehends all and that person who is so sick goes straight into the loving arms of God. Yet, life is such a gift. And all judgement belongs to God.

Our friend was one who talked with us frequently about His love of Christ and of his prayers to be faithful. We prayed with hearts brimming with concern for him. Two years passed when we received a call informing us that our friend had ended his life.

Upon knowing of his choice I thought back on my words to him and prayed to always be helpful, not harmful. Still, in my heart of hearts, I want to believe he is in God’s loving arms and that we will see him again in Heaven. Clearly, there are sicknesses that some of us will never encounter. Therefore a circumstance such as I have written here, can only be judged by God.

When we are asked such a question as this man asked of me, we have to trust God to give us the words we need to speak. Hopefully what instantly comes to one’s heart is filled with love. It is far from easy to speak at such a time as this. We can help others in the most difficult times of their lives by making sure we listen well. We can be of infinite help by letting a person know we care deeply for them and believe in them. We can pray as we listen to them, intending to truly know where that person is coming from. During times when the hardest of all decisions is pounding hard at a person’s heart, we can trust the great care of the God who made us is beyond our comprehension and above our understanding.

If while reading this today you are contemplating suicide, please find a person to talk with; if not a professional or a pastor perhaps the best person to share your soul with will come to mind. Trust that thought and meet with them; tell that person, “I need to talk about something serious. Would you be the one person willing to hear a very challenging decision I could soon make?’

And, be sure to talk to God. Then, listen—because God wants to be in conversation with us. He wants very much to help us, His voice is often still coming from deep within us—often like a whisper. God can be our partner in life while here on earth. Trust Him.

When my soul is in need of help, I open the Bible to the book of Psalms and read for a while. Before long I see what I am meant to know right then. The Bible is a mighty and powerful book!

As I write today, I pray that each reader becomes a better listener of other’s. It is highly important to hear one another, especially in this digital age—as we are also more rushed than ever. Without a doubt, God has helped many of us within various hard places through prayer, reading Scripture, plus hearing strengthening words from others.

Life on earth can bring huge challenges, but God’s help is here for us on terra firma. Proverbs 18:10 say, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” The name of the Lord is Jesus. And, that name holds power far greater than any other name we could ever speak. When we ask, the Lord of heaven does hear and He can extend strength beyond any we could have had without His help. Trust it. Try it. Believe!

If you want to comment or tell your story, please do so below. It will be read and you will have my prayers. I will do my best to respond.

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Do not write a comment here if you are planning suicide. I cannot advise you. But I will do my best to respond to a request for prayer. As per other difficulties, my website at healingwith-Joy.com is full of writings intended to help. Copy and share freely, while crediting this website. Donates at my homepage will keep this work going.