On Death & Grieving..
About Death and Grieving
Last week I received a call from a friend who’s mother-in-law passed away. She asked me if I believed there was a heaven. She knows there is heaven, I know there is heaven and yet somehow when we face death of a loved one we just need to be assured.
Death is hard, it can be scary, life altering and simply confusing. As we navigate our thoughts, emotions and grieving may we never loose sight of God’s gift of grace. By trusting in the work of Christ’s death and resurrection, we have the gift of heaven and the assurance of God’s love.
Thoughts over my friend’s mother in laws death reminded me to pull down an influential book I have, “Come Thirsty”. This beautiful book is written by Max Lucado has been so instrumental in my times of grieving or comforting others in their grief.
May I share…. Ecclesiates 8:8
“None of us can hold back our spirit from departing”
Max shares his thoughts… “None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death. There is no escaping that obligation, that dark battle.”
Ecclesiates 7:1 “The day you die is better than the day you are born”
Max shared these thoughts… “Now there is a twist. Heaven enjoys a maternity-ward reaction to funerals. Angels watch body burials the same way grandparents monitor delivery-room doors. “He’ll be coming through any minute!” They can’t wait to see the new arrival. While we’re driving hearses and wearing black, they’re hanging pink and blue streamers and passing out cigars. We don’t grieve when babies enter the world. The hosts of heaven don’t weep when we leave it.”
We have faced death this year in a different way, we have not been able to pay our respects in our typical way of visitations and funerals, we have heard tragic stories of those loved ones dying alone in hospitals, not able to be with a family member. It has been even more overwhelming with the current lockdowns and COVID situations.
It has not been easy, but know that you can have peace and assurance as you put your trust and faith in Jesus and His gift of life for us. Be at peace. God loves you and wants to wrap His arms of comfort around you.