Read: Matthew 10:28–33
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 4–6; John 10:24–42
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. Psalm 116:15
My mother, so dignified and proper her entire life, now lay in a
hospice bed, held captive by debilitating age. Struggling for breath,
her declining condition contradicted the gorgeous spring day that danced
invitingly on the other side of the windowpane.
All the emotional preparation in the world cannot sufficiently brace us for the stark reality of goodbye. Death is such an indignity! I thought.
I diverted my gaze to the birdfeeder
outside the window. A grosbeak flitted close to help itself to some
seed. Instantly a familiar phrase popped into my mind: “Not a single
sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it” (Matt.
10:29 nlt). Jesus had said that to His disciples
as He gave them marching orders for a mission to Judea, but the
principle applies to all of us. “You are worth more than many sparrows,”
He told them (v. 31).
My mom stirred and opened her eyes. Reaching back to her childhood,
she used a Dutch term of endearment for her own mother and declared,
“Muti’s dead!”
“Yes,” my wife agreed. “She’s with Jesus now.” Uncertain, Mom
continued. “And Joyce and Jim?” she questioned of her sister and
brother. “Yes, they’re with Jesus too,” said my wife. “But we’ll be with
them soon!”
“It’s hard to wait,” Mom said quietly.
Heavenly Father, this life can be so hard and painful. But You! . . . You are right there with us, loving us, keeping us, holding us! And You promise never to leave us or forsake us.
Death is the last shadow before heaven’s dawn.
© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries
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