With a Heavy Heart

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalm 116:15 (ESV)

Sometimes the reality of death is heavier than others.  It bears down, darkens the edges of our vision, and makes our hearts heavy.

Today is such a day.  You see, two people have died today.  One young, unexpectedly, the result of a tragic automobile accident.  The other, older, the matriarch of four generations of family, ill for many years and rapidly declining.  Neither one knew the other, but I knew them both.  One was family, the other a friend.  Both loved their Lord, and leave behind many grieving.

But their deaths are precious to God.  No longer separate from Him, they are both, today, with Him forever, singing, laughing and dancing with Jesus.  They are actually MORE alive today than they were yesterday, or even the day they were born.

This life is but a mere shadow of existence.  A shadow that seems real to us, because we are also shadows.  One day, we will also live this reality, be a part of this reality.

But for now, death looms, and those left behind grieve.