Death Overcome

My kids are no strangers to death. We haven't kept it a secret and Cavett knows all about Dadoo and heaven , Jesus and resurrection. But, today it hit a little closer home. We have know that Grampaw has been struggling for a while now. Actually, for 6 years now there have been severe ups and downs, but Cavett has gotten to have some special time with him and got to know him. This past month the doctors found a rapidly growing tumor in his frontal lobe. He was put in hospice about a week or so ago and passed away this afternoon.

I discussed the possibility of this with Cavett yesterday and he seemed to understand. "Just like Dadoo," he said. This morning our travels took us to the library. The second book that Cavett pulls out is titled, The Red Shoes by Sun Young Yoo and Gloria Fowler. I am a bit weary as I think it could be too girly, but the illustrations intrigued me. We read on. By page 3, the author uses these words--"Karen's mother fell gravely ill and soon after passed away. A brokenhearted Karen wore the red shoes for the first time to her mother's funeral." Ok, stop. These are big words we haven't talked about--gravely ill, passed away and funeral. Words were translated, meanings were given and parallels drawn. It was a good book and in the end the daughter has taken up her mother's craft at making shoes and carried on the traditions. The ending was ok, but I could have had more meaning.

However, during story time this evening, it just so happened that the story we were to read was of Good Friday. Mind you, we have been reading this Bible Story book in order for a couple of months and not changing any order or skipping around. Again, nothing was glossed over, except maybe the nails. But the discussion questions again centered around the words "grieving and mourning." So, this was my reminder and my ending I needed earlier.

We have hope because Jesus died on the cross for us, taking away our sins. We have hope because he will come again and God will wipe away all tears and there will be no more pain or death. Hope is the name of the game, people. Without it we are lost...forever. So have faith in that hope of Jesus Christ and his renewal of all creation.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you" I Peter 1:2-4

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev. 21:4

"The last enemy to be destroyed is death." I Cor. 15:26