I am writing this blog through tears. I am reminded this morning of the gravity of life, time and opportunity. My heart grieves for the child left behind, as she stands on the threshold of her life alone. She faces the inevitable future without the joy of being accompanied by her mother, her cheerleader and friend, who left us abruptly, this morning! Yesterday, this 50-year-old mother was active, vibrant and healthy. A mother that understood giving, serving and sharing. It is unthinkable to realize she is no longer with us.
In the night her heart stopped and she was quickly taken. We all stand here, confounded and in deep pain, but none like the daughter who was left behind. January 15th is the day this young college student was to fly to the other side of the USA and enter University. Her mom was excited to accompany her and get her settled into the dorm, meet her new friends and share in this new step of her daughter’s life. How can this be? In an instant…all lives have changed. “
“The real problem is not why some pious, humble,
believing people suffer, but why some do not”. (C.S. Lewis)
What now?
Life is more than Covid-19, masks, elections and consuming daily activities. Although these are important, death makes us cognizant of the eternal aspect of all life and re-aligns our perspective. It seems to be the great leveler, if we are brave enough to face it. “There is nothing permanent but change”! We are not always prepared for the unexpected. We are often overwhelmed by the shock. The goal is to keep in harmony with His will and direction through the maze.
We see things not as they are, but as we are. How we respond to the unexpected or the seemingly impossible reveals the all of us. We can alter our life by altering our attitude of mind. To see God in everything makes life the greatest adventure there is! Someone once said that living is like “licking honey off a thorn” …I think death is like this. We cannot see what God has in the future and often it includes the desperation of our loss to get us in perfect harmony with His plan and purpose for our lives. It reminds us of His control and care and calls us to grab hold of His hand and follow even more closely. The promise and prayer for this family…
“You removed my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever. I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul…My future is in Your hands…” (Psalm 30:11&12; 31:7)
This is young Bella and my grandson, Payton
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
