I was fourteen when my grandmother died and it was my first experience with the death of a loved one. I was very nervous about going to the funeral home. My mother had eight siblings, so I knew there would be plenty of people there, but just anyone would not do. I wanted someone who would know how I felt and be willing to help me through.
My cousin Missi was just the person. Our mothers had married brothers, so she was actually my double-first cousin, and we shared all the same family members. She was only six months younger than I was, so I knew she was probably feeling the same trepidation about the funeral home.
When we arrived, it was so comforting to see her waiting outside for me. It was as if a huge weight had melted off my shoulders. Together we followed our family members to the viewing room and then to the casket. Perhaps because we shared the experience, it didn't seem nearly as frightening as I anticipated.
We all have events in our lives, both actual and imagined, that will cover us with a shroud of fear, if we let it. The "what-ifs" of life can be truly frightening. There is a "is-so," however, to answer every "what-if."
What is true is that every situation we can face --no matter how sorrowful, how frightening, no matter how great the loss-- The Lord Jesus will be waiting there for us. He knows our sufferings, our temptations to fear, our feelings of frailty. And He is there to strengthen, to guide and to comfort us. There is no where we can go that He is not there waiting for us.
Hebrews 2:17-18
Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His breathren
that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted,
He is able to succour them that are tempted.
No comments:
Post a Comment