Precious in the sight of the Lord

Are the death of His saints.

I attended a funeral this morning of a local pastor's daughter. My heart breaks for the family, but God's grace is definitely present in their lives right now. The funeral was such a testimony of God's mercy and grace, and I truly believe it brought God glory. One person even went forward in the invitation, though I don't know if they got saved or not.

On the way to the funeral some friends of mine and I were talking about what it's like when saved people die. I began to think in my heart about that. I've been privileged to be at the bedside of two saved people when they died. It's never easy to lose loved ones, but then if they are in Heaven they aren't really lost to us; only separated.

When my grandfather went Home, he slipped into a coma first. It broke my heart because even though just two weeks before (When he was still able to really communicate with us) we had a long talk about EVERYTHING, I still wanted that last chance to talk to him. Early that morning when the hospice nurse told us he would die that day I called who was at that time my pastor.

He told me that even though Papa was in a coma I could still talk to him and he might hear me. So I did. I was able to be with him for a few moments completely alone and I told him I loved him (for me that's hard, because I don't say "I love you" very easily to anyone.) and I was so thankful he'd raised me as his very own from the time I was just a little girl. But I told him that most of all I was thankful he had been the one to lead me to the Lord.

Though he didn't open his eyes, and could not speak, tears started rolling down his cheeks. I knew he'd heard me.

Later on that day just before he passed from death unto life, he opened his eyes and smiled. Then he breathed his last breath. If you've ever stood by the bedside of someone saved who has just died you understand what I'm going to say. My heart was filled with joy. I know to some that makes absolutely no sense. How could I be happy when the man whom I loved with all my heart had just died?

I was happy because I had spent almost six months watching the strongest man in the world (to me anyway) became helpless. I watched a man of great faith in God cry some mornings "I want to go home!" (He didn't mean his home on earth, he meant Heaven.) I listened to him in pain sing about Heaven. I watched a man, who though he only had a sixth grade education could build skyscrapers and engines, lose the ability to talk coherently. I saw the dearest person to me in this world die. And I knew without one doubt the moment his soul escaped his body that he was shouting and praising God in Heaven. What on earth could there be to be sad about concerning that? I was also filled with joy because of the special grace present. There is just something different about that grace that I can't put into words.

I grieved later. In fact I grieved later that day. I grieved for months. I would forget he wasn't in his room. I would stand in church to sing and look out and he wouldn't be sitting there. His birthday came a month after he died, then Father's day. Then my grandparents' anniversary. There was no one to hug me, no one to joke around with, no one to sing with, no one to pray with. I cried sometimes until I thought I couldn't anymore. For a few months I pulled within myself and avoided people. Even now there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him. I don't cry as much anymore but I still miss him.

Yet there is still that special grace that only God can give for such situations. I know that grace that was so present to me will be present for the family who lost their daughter. That's just how our God is. He's a Highpriest that CAN be touched with our infirmities. He understands our grief.

After all, He gave His only Son for the whole human race!

There is an Amish saying I really like.

What God doeth is well done.

Though the Amish have issues in their doctrine, I have to agree with that statement. What God does is well done. His will and way are perfect, even if I don't understand. Especially when I don't understand.

This was not long after I came to live with him and my grandmother.
I was four years old.