OVERCOMING LIFE IN THE TOUGH TIMES
Nothing is as exciting as bringing new life into this world, especially when you are connected to the Lord. John and I found that only through Jesus Christ can life on this planet have any value and meaning no matter how successful the world says you are. We were so blessed to have three sons. All were different and the third one arrived ten years after the first. My firstborn was and is really a firstborn-he told me at the age of three he was too old to kiss his mommy in public. My second son was unique-brilliant but to quote his third grade teacher, “He could find the cure for cancer if he could find the laboratory.” My third son grew into one of the most unique, funny, extremely smart, loving individuals our family has ever known. All three love the Lord and at the age of 29 my youngest went to live with the Lord in Heaven.
Life has challenges and one of the most difficult is for a parent is to see a child, no matter how young or old, leave this earth. There is comfort in knowing where he is living now and knowing that more than anyone on this earth, he loved Jesus more. It is true that the Lord’s comfort goes beyond the comfort of any man, but it hurts and more than comfort, a broken heart needs to be healed. The journey John and I experienced after Johnny’s passing, was different for each of us. Some of it had to do with a father’s heart and a mother’s heart. It also was somewhat challenged by the fact that two years prior to this event, my husband John, was diagnosed with cancer.
A good friend of mine teaches a grief counseling course. The first thing she hands out in the class is a list of ”What NOT to say to someone who has suffered a loss”. I really was tempted to hand these out in the weeks and months following Johnny’s departure. I have to admit, I was no expert at knowing “what to say” to someone in my position. Even in the church, we do not understand what happens to those here on earth when a life is gone, especially one that you carried for nine months inside of you and was a delight to have near you. I do realize that each one of us is different. Our relationships, even with those who are close to us, are different. Our reactions to life’s challenges are different and we can’t judge each other as to how we think one should be during these times because they are unique to each of us.
Yeshua (Jesus) is the example of pure compassion, even in the midst of travesty and tragedy. Nailed to a tree He proclaimed, “Abba forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.” Oh to be like Him.
Johnny had an amazing sense of humor and even after he left, things happened that were truly funny-even at the funeral home. But that story is for another blog-time.
