I don’t want to dwell too much on the tough times of 2013, but I began this series of posts and now I must see it through to completion. In case you missed it, you can find part two by clicking here.
As I told you, my year of painful goodbyes began with the loss of my two Labradors, whom I had to leave behind when my marriage broke up. I thought losing two beloved pets was bad, but a new tragedy was about to overshadow that completely; something that was intensely sorrowful not just for me, but for a whole family and all their friends.
In June last year a member of my extended family went into premature labour and gave birth to a son. His first few days of life were fraught with complications and much anxiety. As it happened, his life did not extend beyond those first few days. He passed away at only eight days old, before anyone except his closest family members had ever met him.
To say we were all shocked and disconsolate would be a gross understatement. Many of us were grieved into silence, not knowing what to say to the child’s parents. I know they were (and still are) broken-hearted beyond measure, but the strength and peace they showed throughout the ordeal is a remarkable testimony to their deep-rooted faith in God.
One of the most painful things for me was to see my older sister’s suffering. She was especially close to the situation and is the most empathetic person I know. She has the gift of truly feeling the suffering of others, which is most definitely not a gift for herself (as would be a talent that could make a person rich and famous), but for those on whom she heaps her love and care.
Her despair at the situation was so intense that it scared me. At times I didn’t know how she would survive. But, like the parents of the little boy and many of the rest of us who were shaken by this trial, she made it through by holding firmly onto her faith in God.
Believing that our Maker is in absolute control of everything, that He loves us and that everything is part of His plan and happens for His ultimate glory gives us hope and comfort. He heals the broken-hearted, binding up their wounds. And most of all, we know that physical death is not the end.
We believe that the little boy we lost is safe in the arms of Jesus. He is in a place where there is no more pain, only eternal joy. When this world comes to an end, we will understand everything that we now find unfathomable – such as the untimely death of an eight-day-old baby – and God will wipe every tear from our eyes.
We wait in anticipation of that day, when we will be reunited with all of our lost loved ones and when we get to spend the rest of eternity with the King of Kings.
Proof of Concept 