2MefromHim Devotional - Grieve in Hope

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope…we will be with the Lord forever.Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13,17b, 18

This date lives forever in my memory. I enjoyed a lazy afternoon of enjoying leaves turning golden in the autumn sun while the kids played on the school lawn. I was in no hurry.

My parents were visiting friends out of town. The women went shopping while the men fished their favorite stretch of the San Juan River. They returned from shopping to discover that my father had died when he was struck by lightning under a blue sky. I returned home to my husband awaiting us with the devastating news and the responsibility of informing the rest of the family.

People say, “Oh, golfers and fly fishermen, no wonder, holding something up in the air makes them an easy target.” Not so, the fly rod is fine. Lightning struck my dad, right above the heart. It was his God-ordained time. Job 36:32 says, “He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.” What we can’t understand on earth will be answered in eternity.

A wise friend said that you grieve to the extent that you loved. Nineteen years, and we still grieve. My dad’s death left a hole in each of our hearts that will never be filled, an empty spot in felt at every gathering. We each carry our own precious memories, but we share the emptiness.

Death is a part of life. Rather than being paralyzed in a suspended state of grief, we are to go on serving God, leaving the “whys” to His infinite wisdom. Loss should cause us to seek God with diligence, and live to the fullest, making each day count. Holding onto pain renders us useless. Releasing pain to God enables us to comfort others.

For the Christian, grief must give way to hope of eternal life, and out of hope springs abundant life here on earth.

My dad left an imprint during his time on earth, touching everyone who knew him with his deep faith, unconditional love, and sincere kindness. His memory carries a consciousness that life must be lived in the awareness of the eternal significance of our daily actions.

Choices made today have import, not only for the moment, but for all eternity, and remain long after we are gone with those who loved us. Live well, so those who remain can grieve in hope and not despair.

About the author:

Norma Gail is a former Bible Study Fellowship discussion leader who established the first weekly women’s Bible studies in her church in 2003 and continues to lead a weekly small group. Her devotionals, poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She has led weekly women’s Bible studies for 18 years. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. Her debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, set in Scotland and New Mexico released in April 2014.She is a former RN and homeschool/soccer mom who loves family research, history, and Scotland. Norma lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 38 years. They have two adult children.