We got to the tiny country cemetery on a cold, yet clear January day. The smell of pine trees and freshly turned earth was strong as we walked up the hill. Gathered there were all that are most precious to us, our family, our friends, and our faith.
The grave was tiny, a mound of rich brown earth sat beside it neatly. Three neat rectangles of sod sat waiting to be returned to their places.
It was a sweet, precious, hard time all rolled up into one. We shed tears for this dear little grandbaby that we would never see on this earth due to an incomplete pregnancy. Our dear, dear friend Landis Epp spoke. He spoke of Psalm 139 and how God skillfully weaves us together in our mother’s womb. He spoke of the fact that soon it would be the 34th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade and how just the fact that all of us were gathered on that hillside spoke volumes about the sanctity of life. It is a testament to the fact that this little one was a life, created and loved by God. He spoke of heaven and the fact that there will be no pain, no sorrow, and no loss there. He spoke of Job who said, ‘He gives and takes away, yet blessed be the name of the LORD’. Through our tears, we too stood and said, ‘Blessed be the name of the LORD’.
Dear Little one who I will never hold, never trace my finger down your sweet soft cheek, You are loved.
We let Him now your Shepherd be, until in heaven You, we’ll see.
Not able to sleep I got up and began writing in my journal. I wrote this poem for our little one.
Little one,
Your time with us
Had not begun,
You’ve never felt the warm, soft sun
Or walked on snow or touched a cat
Your time with us
Had not begun.
Yet we love you, little one
And we know while now apart
You are safe and snug with God’s own Son.
We Let Him now your Shepherd be
Until in heaven,
You, we’ll see.
Eternity matters. Today the Sunday sermon was all about how we do not know how long we have on this earth, how a young teenager at our church accepted Christ 10 weeks ago and now has unexpectedly passed away. Today is the day to decide your place in eternity. Tonight Dennis and I read a chapter from The Purpose Driven Life. Here we saw that ‘We are made for eternity. In Ecclesiastes 3:11 it says that ‘God has …planted eternity in the human heart.” This life is not all there is. This life is preparation for the next. No man has ever see, heard or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord. (I Cor. 2:9 LB). When you fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, and you realize that life is just preparation for eternity, you will begin to live differently. You will start living in the light of eternity, and THAT will color how you handle every relationship, task and circumstance.” (The Purpose Driven Life)
Let’s all begin now to live in the light of eternity.
