December 16, 2010.
In the last few months, it's been death after death- mostly of young people I know or am somehow connected to. Being around families that are grieving, not knowing what to say; knowing that nothing would make it okay, and yet still feeling like you should say something. The helplessness. The pain. It sucks... Suffering, and yet knowing it's not entirely helpful cuz you can't make them feel better by it... there are no words for it... maybe that's the point. Maybe it's to just shut up and grieve with them... and pray. Pray long and hard and channel all your sadness into praying for comfort for them because it's the only salve...
I've been thinking about death; and dying :-\ Though no amount of preparation could soften the blow of losing people we love, maybe seeing things from a certain perspective helps in keeping hope alive:
A LIFE-WISH
Dear God, teach me to number my days
I know not when I’ll go.
Let me live out all my todays
Like time ends tomorrow.
Prod me when I procrastinate;
I’m not here for all time.
Let me not leave until too late
The works assigned as mine.
Teach me to love the way You do
Put healing in my smile.
Remind me when misunderstood
It’s only for a while.
Let me not hold too tight a grudge;
There’s more to reach out for-
And when I think I give too much,
Help me sacrifice more.
And those I love, please let them see
My life is just a loan;
So they won’t feel quite so bereaved
When You call me back home.
When they miss me, Lord, give them You:
Replace with hope their grief.
Where they hurt, let Your Spirit soothe
And restore their belief:
That even now, You’re in control;
And give them faith to see
In You, I’ll always be a soul
Though on Earth a memory.
Above all, Lord, prepare a place
For me right where You are;
So that when I leave Earth’s surface,
We’ll never be apart.
Let me not be afraid of death;
Leaving what’s dearly held-
For it is only my rebirth
Into a more real world.
... For the families of E.A, F.L, F.A, G.N, K.S... and all of us who mourn people we love.
Nana Yaa A. Gyamfi (2010)
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (The Message)
"And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don't want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus. And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence--we have the Master's word on it--that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they'll be ahead of us. The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God's trumpet blast! He'll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise--they'll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master.
Oh, we'll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words."
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