We do not grieve as those who have no hope

I find myself drawn to others who are suffering and grieving these days. I have drawn comfort and a sense of kinship with several others who have lost sons in the past few months. I have read several books by parents who have lost sons and find that we are all on this difficult journey, and we are all share many of the same experiences. But, I am most impressed by one thing. That those of us who truly know the living God, and have accepted his son, Jesus, as our personal Lord and Savior, simply do not grieve as those who have no hope. We experience the sorrow of missing our child, of not hearing their voice or seeing their face. But we also rejoice that our child is in the presence of the Most High God...that this child, whose name was written in the lambs book of life, is in the very presence of Jesus. That the mysteries that are still present in our minds are now clear to them, for we see through the mirror dimly but they see face to face. I am moved by the absolute confidence we share that we will one day soon, not only spend eternity with our Savior, but we will have the joy of being with our child, and all our other loved ones for eternity. In my life, this faith, this confidence, this absolute assurance brings me out of sorrow and into a anxious expectation of what lies ahead. When I focus on my true home, the place where my sitizenship is based on my faith in Christ and not where I was born, I am at peace....that peace that passes all understanding. When I think about what Jason is doing right now, where he is, at the joy that is filling his whole being, I am at peace. It is only when I let my mind drift back to the dark days of last August, that the sorrow overcomes me....but only for a while, then my spirit reminds me, that still small voice speaks to my soul and says....think not about then, think about where Jason is now. Lord, have I told you how much I love you? How thankful I am that I know you, that Jason knows you, that you are my father and you love me? Because it is true, my heart rejoices at the thought of you, my spirit sings songs of praise when I contemplate who you are, and I am so thankful that I have the promise of eternal life with you. Thank you for giving peace to this grieving mothers heart. Lord, I ask that you would touch the hearts of each parent who is lost in sorrow over the loss of their child, that you would reveal yourself to them in a way that they would have perfect confidence in your love and your goodness...and that they would experience the peace that passes all human understanding.