We Miss Them

I found out yesterday that an old friend went home to be with the Lord.  This beautiful lady left a family that needed her. We don't always understand the Lord's timing, but we know He is good and has the best plan for our lives.  This dear woman was a mighty woman of God.  A prayer warrior, a woman with a heart to serve, share hospitality, teach and pass on her faith to any and all who would hear.  Heaven's gain is definitely our loss in the wilderness of a world we live in.  I can only imagine her reward and the joy in heaven of seeing her come home.  As a young Christian I learned so much from my friend.  She was a great example and teacher.  As years went by, her and her family moved away and as these things happen we lost touch except for Christmas cards....but I still feel the loss in my heart.  And my heart aches for her family, they need her steadying influence and servant's heart so much.

As I thought about this lose, I couldn't help by be reminded of my own Mom's passing.  We miss them.  Our lives keenly feel the loss of such strong influences and constant companions.  There is a gaping space where they once were.  Old habits of reaching out to them die hard.  I still, even after 3 years occasionally look to tell my Mom something or other.  The Bible tells us in  1 Thessalonians 4:13:  And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.   This verse does not tell us we don't grieve at all.  But in our grief is that kernel of hope.  A steadfast belief, a security and assurance that death is not the end of our relationships.  There is more to come.  Our time together has just been interrupted for a while!

As I moved further away from the losses of 2013, my dog, my cat, and especially and most deeply, my Mom, I started thinking how far away from them I was feeling.  I thought of my Dad, lost in 1990....My heart felt panicky, as if I was losing them completely.  But the Lord comforted me in with the words, "You are not getting further away from them, but closer to the day you will be reunited with them."  What a joy!   That seed of hope lived in my heart, and bore the fruit of peace and comfort.

I contemplated the loss of this friend this morning, and how her daughter must be feeling.  And the thought came to me (hmmmm, the Holy Spirit maybe), that our loved ones live on in our lives.  Yes, we have our memories, photos, maybe some keepsakes....but it's more than that.  For me it's finding myself using some of my Dad's sayings....I hear his words come from my mouth...."take two they're small."  Or if you listened to my Mom, you would hear her say I had his attitude! (and she was not always thrilled with that. LOL)  Then there is the fact that the song, "The Old Rugged Cross," is a favorite of mine.  It was my Mom's, as well as my Grandmother's. Love for this old hymnn has been passed down through the generations.  Perhaps you handle a situation as your parents did, or maybe it's certain mannerisms you have in common.  A family favorite recipe that you cook. You may see them in your child's face.   All these things tell us our loved ones are still with us, never far from our lives and hearts.

Our God is so good.  He really does bring comfort in the saddest of times.  And I pray for this family who is passing through the low valley of death and grief right now.  I know the Lord will be faithful to hold them to Himself.  I pray that this entry brings peace, comfort and a reminder of hope to anyone who is suffering the heartache of loss right now.  God is here for you.  He never leaves, even when our dearest ones do.

Thank You Lord.