After All…There is Hope
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 ESV)
This past week I was once again reminded how fragile life is. Two of my friends (a set of twins) lost their mom unexpectedly. This brought back painful memories of my own dad’s passing 23 years ago; yes it still hurts even after so many years.
I think mostly it still hurts because I felt guilty for a very long. You see, my dad passed away a month-and-a-half after my little family made the move from Germany to the United States. Deep down in my heart I knew that I would not see him again this side of heaven. I remember the morning I received the call from Germany that my dad had passed (losing the battle with cancer) in the wee hours of March 23rd, 1991. That day I was trying to get a flight back to Germany to attend my dad’s funeral.
However, I was not able to get a flight to Germany due to my visa status. I was crying all day long until I had no tears left. I was in this strange country, no way to fly back home to support my mom and say ‘goodbye’ to my than 52-year old dad. Although I was able to fly back couple months later, it was not the same.
It took 6 full years after my dad passed to find closure. The proper closure I found during a worship service and a sermon the pastor preached that day. When a loved one is called Home, we don’t understand God’s way nor His timing. We get angry and are hurting. We throw up our fist toward heaven and ask ‘Why now God? I am not ready to say goodbye!’.
We will never be ready to say goodbye to loved ones, but after all the hurt, there is hope.
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:18-21 ESV)
“Lord of Heaven and Earth; today I want to thank You for my earthly father. He was a strong man and he has taught me so much. I am especially thankful for the times he taught me Your Word and the hope that can be found in Christ Jesus. Lord, give strength and peace to the ones that have lost loved ones. Wrap Your loving arms around them. I am trusting in Your mercy. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.”
This blog is dedicated to parents (Peter Brueck, Edwin Ray Gideon Sr., Linda White) and loved ones that have influenced ours and others lives. Live life loved, because you are!
