I think I’m beginning to learn what it means to rejoice with those who rejoice and to mourn with those who mourn.
I’m mourning with my friends, Paul and Becky over a 9-day-old baby that I never met. I mourn because Paul and Becky mourn.
Donna and I have had the opportunity to know Paul and Beck for about five years. We met them through a new church start-up called Worship Center Church. Paul and Becky later moved on to Living Hope Baptist Church. Later on, we did too and met again our friends.
We rejoiced with them at the birth of their first baby girl, Kalynn.
We were excited when they discovered they were pregnant again with Abby.
And now we mourn with them in her passing.
In all honesty, this sucks! I hope and pray that I never have to bury a child. Why should any parent have to bury their child? I know that the question of “why?” isn’t legitimate. I know that God is all-powerful and He is not caught off guard by this tragedy. But right now, that doesn’t help the pain.
Philip Yancey explains it best as he deals with the concepts of pain. He explains that pain is necessary. Without it, how could we comprehend warnings? How could we experience discipline? How could we experience great joy and satisfaction?
I know all of this, but it doesn’t stop the pain. It doesn’t even dull it.
All this knowledge does it make me that much more aware of it. But it also makes me that much more aware of God’s presence. Even in the midst of all of this, somehow, God is here and His mercies are flowing. This doesn’t make sense, because the pain is still very real and sensitive, but it is present. God knows what its like to lose a child. He knows what its like to bury a child. He knows because His son, Jesus died for you and I, should we chose to believe and walk in that belief.
The funeral is tomorrow morning. Please pray for our friends, our church and us.
Thanks!
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