2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:2-4 I was once again reminded this week just how fragile our lives are with the health crisis of a young man of very good friends of ours. This family met with our daughter's former orthopedic specialist to prepare for a surgery to correct a knee/foot condition. A simple trip to a heart specialist to see if his heart was strong enough to withstand the rigors of surgery revealed a rather large Aorta ( several times the size it should have been) that in the words of this doctor "they are very lucky that he is still alive". As I reflect on our daughter's short life I was reminded that this same doctor sent us for a similar consult, but in her case her heart was healthy and strong enough for surgery. I was reminded once again how really fragile life is for all of us. There are so many different ways for any of us to take our final breath. Worrying about the fragility of life isn't the answer. To do so we allow ourselves to grow anxious. We are reminded of this in Philippians 4:6-7 with these words: '6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. While it is true that our days are numbered God made it possible for all us to see heaven once our time on earth has been exhausted. In John 14 we are reminded with these words, " My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” You see, God assured us of the complete divinity of Jesus Christ when after being buried for 3 days he was bought back to life. We are reminded by the words in Matthew 28,' After the day of worship, as the sun rose Sunday morning, Mary from Magdala and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake. An angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and was sitting on it. 3 He was as bright as lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. 4 The guards were so deathly afraid of him that they shook. 5 The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you’re looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He’s not here. He has been brought back to life as he said. Come, see the place where he was lying. 7 Then go quickly, and tell his disciples that he has been brought back to life. He’s going ahead of them into Galilee. There they will see him. Take note that I have told you.” 8 They hurried away from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly, Jesus met them and greeted them. They went up to him, bowed down to worship him, and took hold of his feet. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go, tell my followers to go to Galilee. There they will see me.” Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ we can be assured that no matter what happens to us on any given day or hour we can be assured of our final destiny. If your next trip to the doctor reveals somewhat distressing news with a recommendation of what you can do about it I urge you to heed your doctors advice and have whatever impacts your life to have it corrected. Whereas we know our fate when we are in Christ I believe Paul said it best in Philippians 1, "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I to remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me." Because of Jesus's ministry on earth and because of the resurrection and because he appeared to thousands of people we are assured that the words that are written in the book of life are true and accurate and no matter what happens to any of us we are predestined to be with our Lord forever.
13 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: Colossians 3:13
I was again reminded of the power of forgiveness in the post left by good friends of ours on the Caring Bridge website in regards to their son. I hope that as you read my posts on this site you will see how God had woven this power of forgiveness where I was able to see the infinite goodness of our medical community in treating people of all ages of some very serious afflictions after my daughter's loss through that same community. It behooves me to see that the world at large has a slash and burn mentality and when sudden death occurs they immediately run to the nearest trial lawyer for relief, instead of God. The family in Ferguson have now retained a lawyer to gain monetary damages for the taking of their son. By that same token we fail to see what it is like to be a police officer on the front lines each day. Instead of reconciliation we destroy. Instead of forgiveness we incite hatred, violence and retribution. In the words of my former boss who asked what happened when Judas received the coins from the Chief priests for turning Jesus in and my response was 'he was filled with remorse' as he tossed them into the court yard.' I was further reminded through the words of a final Jewish attorney I had consulted, 'the best thing you can do is to focus on honoring your daughter's memory by doing good things in that memory'. This coming from an someone who himself lost a 1 year old daughter who never got the chance to sleep in her own bedroom. Forgiveness. Like the smell of sweet perfume it fills the air and draws people near. Forgiveness. To say those words to the those who could not save your daughter's life in the end sets both of you free. I was reminded of the final meeting we had with our daughter's doctor where we listened to each other's grief journey's and at the end of that meeting we prayed for him. Forgiveness. That word permeates throughout the pages of scripture. Forgiveness. The healing salve that redeems people and gives them hope for the future. Life is filled with uncertainly. Things happen in this life that we may never really understand unless we lean onto God and trust Him to reveal the bigger picture to us in time. Forgiveness. As we work through that process God will do amazing things through you to bring blessings to many in this world. I am reminded by the words from John 16:33 where Jesus says, "These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Because of the power of forgiveness I get to see the professionalism of our daughter's specialist in being the conduit to bring healing to another young lad of very good friends of ours. God ultimately paid the price for all of our transgressions by coming into this world in a form of a baby and being the ultimate sacrifice on the Cross and through that sacrifice and resurrection opening up heaven's gate for all to come if only we receive this free gift of salvation. Through his ultimate sacrifice God sets the standard to help each of us to forgive.
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
On those nights I lie awake in bed when my body wants to rest I have visions of my loved one and the questions that go with it. 'Why God' seems to be the nagging question of the moment, at a time I would much rather sleep to prepare me for yet another day. 'What if God' I was there at the most crucial time my loved one needed me then maybe that person would still be here. Tossing and turning I try with all my might to fall asleep and I guess it is quite natural for those of us in grief to at times stay awake; after all, the love for the one that died was not a fleeting love and I cannot expect my grief at this time to be a fleeting grief. For those moments like these I say a simple prayer. Dear Jesus, Let me experience the heavenly air my loved one tastes. Let me feel the gentle breezes, Let me taste heaven's seas that my love one is experiencing. Finally, please give my loved one a hug from her family. It seems that when I turn those why's and what if's into a prayer back to God he answers them with the sleep I need. Jesus understands the pain you are experiencing. He is on both sides of the veil. He experiences the absolute joy of your loved one and he walks with you on your journey of grief. If you could hear one thing Jesus might say to you it is this: "Your journey isn't complete and I will use what ever pain you are going through to reach the souls that do not know my peace and hope for the things yet to come." Our God is faithful. He is always true and the things that are written his book are meant to give you life. One day, you will wake up filled with joy as you begin to see God's promises unfold in your life. May God richly bless you on this journey of grief.
