Death and Life
Loss…
Everyone will experience it at some time in their lives, and most more than once. Death is a fact of life, but knowing that doesn’t make it easy.
As a parent, I find it a challenge to explain death to my kids in a way they will understand. As a Christian, believing in God and having a hope beyond this life, I can do it easier than I would be able to otherwise.
We lost a wonderful friend, who happened to be our landlord, last week. The funeral is today.
When my 7 year old son found out about our friend, he sat there looking very sad for a minute.
I asked him if he was sad, and he nodded his head. I held out my arms for him and he came over and climbed onto my lap, trying very hard not to cry. I told him it was ok to cry if he was sad, and he did. He cried a lot for about 20 minutes, and we talked about what a special person our friend was, and how he always let Troy follow him around and help him fix things.
We talked about how our friend gave each one of the kids a special card every Christmas, and how we would miss him a lot.
Troy said he was happy that he knows he will see him again in heaven, and we talked about how heaven will be.
Death is never easy, but when we can be assured that a loved one knew God, and believed in Jesus as their savior, we have something that no-one else can offer. We have a way to rejoice, even in death.
The funeral today is going to be a celebration of a life lived in compassion and dedicated to loving others with the love of God.
Pray for us and rejoice with us as we celebrate life; old and new, on earth and in heaven.
June 13th, 2007 at 12:24 am
Your family, and especially your children, will be in my prayers. We know it is selfish to grieve when a loved one has gone to be with God. But we are also human beings with the full range of emotions God granted us. I lost an old family friend, a family member I called “Uncle,” and a dear friend all in one year between 2004 and 2005. The Gaither music collection titled “Heaven” brought me many tears but also many assurances during that time.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I want to be sure to rejoice at my passing and let everyone know that I was looking forward to seeing Jesus and then my son and husband, and all other family member, and so many special friends. What a day that will be and I will have completed all the plans Jesus had for me.
Remember me.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Jeanne, that got messed up.
I meant to say I want YOU to rejoice along with your Mom Carol, when I pass … the sentence was written incorrectly.
Be happy in the mean time while I do the work of the Lord each day as he tells me.
Love, Aunt Donna
June 22nd, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Dear Jeanne,