Today would have been a big number for her, changing from one decade number to another. Instead, her family and friends are left with memories and the reminder of another day without Beat.
I don’t believe it’s by coincidence that I heard this by Sheri Rose Shepherd on Continue reading “The Birthday Celebration That Wasn’t”
It’s hard to know how to title this one. Nearly a month ago life just took another painful twist. We should be no stranger to painful twists by now but this was a twist none of us saw coming. Bekah, a sweet 18-year-old girl from my church, suddenly passed away from heart failure. It’s hard to explain just how much this gripped me! Pain for her family! Pain for her youth group! Pain for me! Our church is small and each person counts, no matter how young or old! Each person would be missed, no matter how/when they left.
Before I knew for sure what had happened to Bekah, that Tuesday night, I drove to the nearby pond to capture the sunset that was blazing away. One night beauty and the same night knee-buckling pain. Did Bekah see the other side of this sunset? If it is this beautiful here, what does the beauty of Heaven look like?
A month ago to the day before that we laid to rest Bekah’s aunt. I just blogged about that. There have been other painful losses in the past few years.
The day of Bekah’s funeral, her dad suffered a stroke. He is in rehab. Please keep this dear family in your prayers as you think of them!
SPRINGTIME IN GLORY
There is a happy land of sunshine I know,
Free from all sorrow, pain and care, (From pain and care,)
The blessed land where the chilly winds of death never blow
It is Spring time forever there.
Chorus:
Springtime in Glory
Always Springtime in Glory
Where the flowers are blooming rich and rare (so rich and rare)
Where the happy angels are singing,
Bells of Glory are ringing,
It is Springtime forever there.
Youthful and happy, none will ever grow old
Out in that lovely land so fair.
So bright and fair.
The land where there is no suffering from hunger or cold.
It is Springtime forever there.
Chorus:
Springtime in Glory
Always Springtime in Glory
Where the flowers are blooming rich and rare (so rich and rare)
Where the happy angels are singing,
Bells of Glory are ringing,
It is Springtime forever there.
There is no weeping in that home of the soul
No death to bring us to despair (to bring despair)
The land where all will be glory while the ages shall roll.
It is Springtime forever there.
Chorus:
Springtime in Glory
Always Springtime in Glory
Where the flowers are blooming rich and rare (so rich and rare)
Where the happy angels are singing,
Bells of Glory are ringing,
It is Springtime forever there.
Copyright Presley/Stamps Baxter, SESAC
I believe Georgia is prettiest in the spring. I love the beautiful flowers, the sunny days that are void of humidity. It’s the kind of weather that I hope Heaven will have.
This is the 4th or 5th spring in a row that we as a church family have said good-bye to a loved one (2 years ago it was my dad). Nearly 2 weeks ago our former pastor’s wife slipped away after 4+ years of battling an untreatable illness. The last number of months the pain had been between intense and unbearable. Through her suffering her focus was fixed on Jesus and the glory waiting. I was so challenged by her focus. She told her pastor-son, “Now don’t you pray for healing for me! I’m ready to go Home!”
It was definitely a challenge to me. Is it possible the more we (Christians) suffer, the less attached we are to a fallen world? Suffering comes in many sizes and shapes. We live in a fallen world. There is a better one coming for the believer. Christ suffered in unspeakable agony to give us Eternal Life. Can we bear suffering with longing for Home?