There comes a point in one’s
life, where we all have no choice but to face death. It is simply a ‘normal’ part of life. We are born as babies who grow into toddlers,
kids, pre-teens, teens, young adults and, eventually (hopefully) we mature into
adults. For the majority of us, our
lives will end sometime during our ‘senior’ years.
But what happens when “death
comes knocking” way too early in life? Miscarriages,
still born, cancer, ‘freak’ accidents, and incurable diseases (HIV/AIDS) to
name a few, and those we love are ‘taken’ from us before we are ready to let
them go?
We (I) are (am) quick to
question God. Quick to ask, ‘where is
He?’ ‘Doesn’t He love us?’ and ‘how could He allow this to happen’. Or, one that I have been asking (saying to) myself
a lot lately is, “I though God was/is a
God of miracles…this would have been a ‘prime time’ to have shown that. Way to ‘miss’ this chance God”.
Although there is a
freedom in knowing it is ‘okay’ to ask…it doesn’t take the hurt/pain away from
losing a loved one…whether they were with us for a few minutes or many many
years. There is never enough time. Eventually, we all will ‘run out of time’.
Morbid?? Perhaps.
Reality….absolutely.
Recently, I have been
forced to deal with two people who have died, in my opinion, way too early in
life. Although these two people are from
two very different sides of my heart…one a blood relative and one not, they are
both a part of my family and saying ‘Good-bye’ is never easy. Although the words, “At least they are in a
better place, alive and well” are meant to be a form of an encouragement, they
are not. It hurts and it flat out sucks. I have also yet to come up with an answer to
the question, “How are things going?” My
default answer, “considering the shitty situation at hand, not ‘bad’”.
I am well aware that
death is a topic that makes many people (including myself) uncomfortable simply
because we do not know how to respond or act to death itself. Reality also is, that life goes on. The living are still living and the mundane
of everyday life, continues. Where do we
find the balance of mourning the loss of a loved one, yet rejoicing in the life
that they DID live…regardless of the number of years they were given here on
earth.
Isn’t it interesting how
scripture speaks to our hearts in that exact moment in which we need it? Even though it may be from a passage in which
we have read thousands times before?
Psalm 139 is a Psalm that I love and have read countless number of
times. Yet recently, when I was reading it to my small group of girls at youth,
verse 16-18 struck me in a way that it never has prior.
It reads…
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for
me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts,
God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am
still with you”.
Life is a gift. It is meant to be treasured and fought for. What we do with the time we are given here on
earth, is so important. It’s not about
having the newest, hottest ‘toy’ or having the biggest house. It is about the relationships we have with
those around us. More importantly, it is
about our relationship with God and trusting Him, to work through our lives and
IN everything that we do no matter the situation we may be facing.
At the end of my life, whatever
day that was ordained for me in His book, all I crave, is to see the face of my
Maker before me and to hear Him say,
“Welcome to Eternal Glory. Well done, good and faithful servant. Welcome Home”.
