Gina Caswell Kelly
Our hearts are broken this week for the loss of a sweet child. I think this loss has rocked all of us. We have all seen his precious picture. Many of us knew this one whose life was gone so quickly. There are just no words to bring any comfort to anyone in this. We serve God. We know the right things. We know that this one is with Jesus today. The Bible tells us to be absent from the body is to be present with God. He likely closed his eyes and opened them up to see the face of God. The wonderfully loving face of God welcoming him home. What a precious sight to behold. The face of God and then the faces of those relatives who had gone on before him welcoming him into heaven with open arms and precious smiles. That is a beautiful thought and paints a wonderful picture, and it is truth. I believe with all my heart that it is truth. We know it is true because His Word tells us so.
But still, we remain. And that is where the sorrow is. That is where the suffering is. That is where the memories remain so etched in our minds and hearts. As I said, there are really no words that can be said. At times such as this, we just have to trust in the Father and His promises that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. We have to trust in His Words in Lamentations 3:32 which say, “Even though He brings me grief, He also brings compassion. So great is His unfailing love!” I have loved this verse for many years. I have loved it because I have seen its truth. Even in my days of greatest sorrow, and trust me, this past week has been great sorrow, I have been blessed to see His unfailing love surround me. His unfailing love shows up in His children as they share in our grief and suffering. His unfailing love has shown up in words of comfort from the Bible. His unfailing love has shown up each morning as the sun rises once again.
The next verse in Lamentations states, “For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to His children.” God did not willingly take this baby boy. God set the world in motion and certain things are just going to happen. God did not take this baby, but He did let life play out, and He allowed this child to enter into heaven. And it breaks God’s heart to see his family suffer and cry out in agony and grief. But, that is when God opens that great hand of His and allows His children to enter in to gain rest and peace in the hollow of His hand. He is offering His peace and His comfort to all of us today. And He waits to take us home with Him one day too. On that day when it is our time to go to that place of no more sorrow and no more tears.
When our time on earth is completed, what a great destination awaits those who have trusted the Savior with our lives. Those who have accepted His gift of grace and forgiveness. On that day, we too will open our eyes to see the face of God, and oh my goodness, that knowledge makes the difference!
Continue to pray for those in need. It also makes a difference.
