Time seems to become irrelevant as we wait for a loved one to die. I find myself unable to escape the reality even in my subconscious. As I clean the kitchen, take a shower, play with the dog... in the back of my mind I am consumed with thoughts of what is happening now: Are they in pain? What can I do to help besides pray? How are those closest to them doing?
We will one day be reunited to live forever in Christ but the rest of life on this earth will be lived with a crushing awareness of their absence, and of a life not lived to old age.
We will one day be reunited to live forever in Christ but the rest of life on this earth will be lived with a crushing awareness of their absence, and of a life not lived to old age.
I cling to the promises of Christ: To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord; In our weakness, He is our strength; He will never forsake us; His mercies are new every morning; For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.*
As sinners saved continuously by the blood of Christ, we live and die as He wills. Therein lies my peace.
*(Paraphrased: 2 Cor. 5:8, I Cor. 4:10, Heb. 13:5, Lam. 3:22-23, Phil. 1:21
