By Judy Villanueva
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Our family recently suffered the loss of a beloved member. It hardly seemed real and doesn’t feel real even now. Whether anticipated or unexpected, death seems to throw us into an unwelcomed and unimaginable state of disbelief. While a shared destiny, its arrival ushers in an incomprehensible moment, a soul-wrenching anguish. It is with great reluctance and tears that we let go and eventually accept the realities of life without our dad, mom, spouse or friend. We are born into a world that brims with life, and knowing that one day hearts stop beating and next breaths simply aren’t inhaled doesn’t make death any easier to tolerate when it takes away our loved one.
And, then there are daisies.
Have you ever noticed that life is always piled up on top of life? In other words, we are seldom purely happy or sad and most often experience a mix of emotions that live together all at once. Grief sits in the middle of the arms that hold us and sadness amidst the good that surrounds us as the sun comes up and we awaken to God’s fresh mercies. Life continues to pour out love and beauty right alongside great loss and, incongruous as it may feel, our hearts are designed to take in and hold both the joy and the sorrow.
Hellos and goodbyes stand side-by-side inviting us to let go of what has ended and reach out for God and the life He offers beyond the pain of loss.
Each June the fields around our house are visited by hundreds and hundreds of daisies! At first, only a couple of bright yellow faces peek out from amidst the grass but before long the whole landscape is blanketed in what looks like happiness! Their time with us is a gift every year and their presence, a reminder that God is good and beautiful. As I soak up the blessing of “daisy-joy” I can feel the love of God wrap around my heart with healing grace…and I am helped to allow for laughter amidst the tears, joy alongside my sorrow and gratitude to rise up from the middle of my grief.
“Father, how we need You to hold us in times of loss and pain. We cannot have been made for death as it seems so very incomprehensible. Help us to lean against your faithful heart and trust You now and always. Help us to receive the comfort that we find inside Your arms of love. Amen.”
What about you?
Are you in a time of great loss?
Have you experienced the comfort of God’s presence?
Do you know the peace that surpasses all comprehension…found in the arms of God?
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
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Worship
Well said my dear Judy
I loved this! I am sorry for your family’s loss Judy. Thanks for sharing during this sad time.
Praying for Him to hold you and yours. Thank you for sharing your heart, Judy.
Job 1:21
“The Lord give the and take the away, blessed be the name of the Lord..”
Your words were beautiful. We share in your grief. Love u JV
The tears that dampen our eyes in times of mourning are tears of homesickness,
tears of longing for our loved one. But it is we who are from from home, not they.
Death has been for them a door way to eternal home.
So poignant and comforting! I gave birth to my first child when my dad was struggling to beat cancer. When he died John was 10 months old. I experienced exactly what you have described, joy and sorrow wrapped up together. Then when Mom was in her final year, my grand daughter Joan was born. We have a precious picture of the two of them. Thanks Judy for your beautiful heartfelt words.
Thanks Judy! That was lovely.