DEATH. For some, that word tends to leave a nasty sting. To them, it is as if everything good is over. For believers though, it’s a time of rejoicing and realizing your loved one has entered Heaven. In the past week this has all been rolling around in my head. My grandfather passed away on Thursday, August 18th, around 7:30 in the morning. Now I won’t go into all the details, but I will say that he has been very sick for the past 10+ years, but recently he had been getting much, much worse. Granted, we were all attempting to “prepare” ourselves for his death, thinking it would come in the months to come. It was one of those things you think to yourself, “well, it COULD happen tomorrow..” But it never does. Every day you keep telling yourself that – and everyday it doesn’t happen. You just keep praying – because I believe in healing – until the very last breathe someone breathes. Well like I said, Thursday morning, he took his last breathe. And of course, initially I was shocked it had happened so soon. I was sad. I cried. I was so sad to see my grandma so sad. I was sad to see my mom sad. And also I was sad because I knew I’d miss my grandpa’s tough handshake. His jokes that weren’t actually that funny – but always made you laugh. His ridiculous frugality, and well, him just being here. So obviously, I shed some tears, I grieved. I’m sure I’ll still have days ahead of me that I’ll think about it and be sad, I’ll miss him. But as I looked around at the viewing – the funeral – and even the burial, I saw people balling. Just crying their hearts out. And I know everyone handles situations differently, and that they have different ways of mourning. That’s completely understandable. Nevertheless, through all of this, I couldn’t help to think – are they crying because they think they’ll never see him again? Are they crying because they think their time together is over? I know I was sad for a time – but when someone is a believer, I know their death is a time of rejoicing! They have gone to Heaven to be with Jesus – nothing is better than that! And though the last few years haven’t been the best for my grandfather – mentally & physically – I do believe Jesus was his Lord and Savior, and I am so happy he is in Heaven, with a new and improved body, completely healed and well! So – I guess the point of this little post is that – though I was completely sad and down, especially for the first couple of days – I keep meditating on verses such as, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in the spirit. A righteous man will have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. (Psalm 34:18-19) or, “Lord, You know the hopes of the helpless, surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.” (Psalm 10:17) Which is totally what He did in this situation! I’m completely in awe of the peace that can come over you, and it’s all because of Jesus. At one point through all of this, I thought I was missing something, because I wasn’t bawling like a lot of others (I guess mostly unbelievers) but then I realized, it was them that were missing something! And that something? JESUS. His peace passes ALL understanding.
“Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will NEVER see death."
-John 8:51
-John 8:51
