My family is experiencing the extremes of life at the same time. I think I have asked the question before, “how do you rejoice and grieve simultaneously?” Emotions just don’t turn on and off like a water spigot. Or do they? We are, after all, fearfully and wonderfully made by a Master Hand.
Maybe it is only in the Western World that we try to pretend that life is really all about…well…living as we define it. We pretend that death is not a part of life. But it is.
We have just rejoiced in the birth of a new boy to our family. We are thrilled and welcome little Benjamin fully. Our arms are open wide and our hearts are full. We praise God and ask for great things for this new little man.
At the same time, we have been in the process of saying goodbye to one of our grandpas. Hospice gave us a booklet detailing the process of dying. Our grandpa went through those stages. It was so helpful to understand better what we saw. However physically or emotionally painful, this is a natural course that will come to all of us at some point.
I think I understand, much better now, when the Bible says that the death of His saints is a precious thing in the eyes of God. And I saw the graciousness of our heavenly Father as He gently guided our grandpa into the new phase of eternal life. Though the pain is undeniable, we know where he is and who holds him forever.
Our Father tenderly introduces us to the death door and the life beyond, and allows us and our loved ones the time to get used to the idea and work through the spiritual and physical elements of transition. He prepares us. Just as any good parent prepares his children for what they will face in life, our heavenly Father does the same.
We welcomed a new little man to our family and released one of our wise men to heaven’s arms within a day.
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” Psalm 116:15.
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