Sandra Atkerson’s picture beams in radiance from the website at Dignity Memorial Chapel. Sadly, the picture is part of an obituary. The time came, mercifully, for Sandra to lay aside the vessel in which she served God for a lifetime. Sandra thrived in her intimate walk with God. She liked to remember her special times of refreshing with Him as “God breezes.”
At a recent prayer breakfast, I read a writing by Steve Atkerson, Sandra’s husband. The writing was entitled, “Sandra’s ‘God Breezes’”. Steve reminisced about outdoor ventures he and Sandra enjoyed while she was still physically well enough. There was also the memory of when a decision was made that she would not continue chemo treatments for the cancer.
Steve recalls waking beside his wife very early one morning and hearing her labored breathing. He prayed that if God were not going to heal her, He would end her suffering. Steve said immediately Sandra’s breathing stopped. It did not begin again. God heard Steve’s prayer and the yearning of Sandra’s spirit. The chemo did not matter anymore. It would not be needed. The cancer did not matter anymore. Its power was broken.
Steve is pleased that Sandra’s testimony lives on to bless others. The two of them ministered together in life. Steve continues to share his precious life partner’s thoughts in her earthly absence. For some years Steve and Sandra hosted a house church at their home. Steve tells me that local officials asked them to do something differently because of cars “parked all over the street.” Steve says they are still meeting in a “home”. He has not lost his sense of humor. The church rents a funeral home.
Steve and Sandra shared a relationship that thrived in encouraging others to experience an intimate walk with God. When a time of spiritual refreshing renews your heart, Steve will be pleased if you choose to say you just felt one of Sandra’s God breezes!
Words and People 