Dealing with the death of someone dear
With a heavy heart, I had to express condolences to the family of a classmate and former church member today. In fact, we attended church together as youths and then again as adults at a different church. She was a special person, bright, smart, successful in her career, and then suddenly sick. And although she would have her good and bad days, I never thought I would witness this day so soon.
Her passing stirs up several emotions because we had many things in common. Isn’t that the way it is when someone close to you in age dies? You think internally, selfishly, about your own immortality.
It is easy also to feel guilty about what you did not do, the time you did not spend, the last time you spoke, or question why you did not do more to show that you cared. After overcoming some of my worst health battles, I wanted to be that person who was always there for people in pain or struggling with their health. But I soon realized that I could not be there for everyone in those up-close and personal ways.
Instead, I try to be constant in prayer for the health of my friends and family members. I try to be instant in prayer as well. If I need to stop find a quiet place to lift them up to God in prayer, I will do that in addition to texting a message that “I am praying for you.” I do my best to be intentional because life is too full of distractions to wait.
Anyway, I know this is not about me today, but death serves as a reminder that life is short. We are here today and tomorrow, we may not be. So for the time I am here on earth, I pray that God will help me to do better, in terms of being present for people who have health battles, in whatever form that looks like. And ultimately, when it is my time to go, I hope to say to the Father God what Jesus said at the end of his days on earth: “I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave me to do.” (John 17:4).
That is the consolation I have when any Christ follower dies. My blessed assurance is that they have left this finite existence to live with God forever. In which case, I do not mourn for long. For as cliché as it may sound, they are indeed in a better place, in a heavenly home, rejoicing with the angels. This, I believe, for one of the kindest people I have ever known. RIP LBJ.
Finally, may you, dear reader, find peace with whatever losses you have today.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.”
Romans 12:15 CSB
Sincerely,
Leah
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