Opinion Article By Eric Horton
As a community, we find ourselves hurting for two families who have lost children. One family lost a son at birth, the other family lost their son to cancer. Of course, nobody knows the crushing loss as these families do and there is no agony so heartbreaking as the death of a child, no matter the age. At the same time, a local family had a baby girl, and she is healthy. I’m reminded of the words King Solomon pinned that we find in Ecclesiastes 3. It’s the “A Time For Everything” passage. In verse two, Solomon tells us, “a time to be born and a time to die,”.
I don’t believe that a short life is an incomplete life and although the length of life of a child can be brief, that child served a purpose, finished his or her mission, and accomplished a God-appointed assignment in this world. Think about this for a moment, when our children are born, when they live a life, it should bring joy to you and others. Also, out of a child’s helplessness and weakness, a parent begins to learn strength and protection. Like God… He has the same strength for and protection towards us.
King David lost one child and he knew what it meant to grieve those losses. At the same time, he knew where his son was at death. After David found out his son died, he went and worshipped God, came back to the palace and was served food and drink. His servants asked him why he was doing this. The Word of God tells us this, “David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the LORD will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.” (2 Sam. 12:22-23). David understood his child is with God in Heaven and one day he’ll be there with him. Although his child is not there, but there is comfort in knowing where his child is.
Let’s put this perspective, as Christians, we know the Lord Jesus has gone to prepare a place for those who are His own. Jesus tells us this in John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” Perhaps the death of a child is preparing you and will help you become more excited about Heaven and maybe tell people about eternal life that can be obtained through faith in Christ. Remember, a child is a parent’s treasure, and the Word of God tells us, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).
These tragedies are no mistakes of God. His plan is perfect, His plan is righteous, His plan is holy, His plan has a purpose and we know from Romans 8:28 when Paul tells the Roman Church, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Those two families are people I know who believe in Christ.
What happens now? Well, we grieve with the families. We love on the families. We pray for the families. We show hope in Christ and help comfort the families. What about the family whose child was born healthy? We pray for the family. We pray for that child. This child will face a lot of things growing up, and so will the parents. One thing is certain… out of all this… there is HOPE in Christ.
