I am linking up for Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on the new Five Minute Friday blog. Today’s prompt is “Accept” This community is such a gift to me. We’d love to have you join us on Thursday nights for our Twitter party.
A last breath taken way too soon. Sometimes the sting of death is so glaringly obvious. Some of my friends lost one of their friends this week. She died way too young. My heart breaks for her friends and family.
Then there is our blog brother Andrew battling with cancer daily. Each day getting harder and harder. Death will come. And it is a day I don’t want to accept. Why does the sting of death burn so deeply?
Fall reminds me of my friend E.G. and her beautiful son who died very young. A sweet boy who I’ve only met in photos, but who I love because his parents are some of my favorite people; dear friends in my life. This boy lives through the memories of his family. He is Resurrection hope embodied.
Death is a part of life. It often stings so deeply. Yet I find comfort and perhaps acceptance in these words from the book of Romans. “If we live, we live to the Lord. If we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lords.”
Friends, these sweet words are balm to my weary soul. Sweet words that I can accept as I trust in the promises of resurrection hope. Because life not death has the final word. In the words of Clarence W Hall, “Easter says you can put death in the grave, but it won’t stay there.”
And for that I’m eternally grateful!
ah.. that’s a good reminder FMF neighbour. remembering we are always the Lord’s.
Indeed!
Have you heard the Matt Maher song “Christ Has Risen From the Dead”
Here is the chorus
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave.
I am so thankful that death does not have the final word.
-Jolene
I have heard that song before. And Me too!
Tara, thank you for the callout…though I wish it were for other reasons! 🙂
Funny thing about death. I think of it more as a player in a game that I know I will eventually lose, in this life, but not as a final arbiter.
The grave could not hold Jesus, and He made darn sure it wouldn’t hold me, either.
I wish it were for other reasons too,
Poignant and beautiful. Love the Clarence Hall quote, one of my favorites.
Thank You!
Trusting the promises of resurrected hope! Beautiful!
Yes! And thank you!
Yes! I need to remember that without the black soil, life cannot take root. It doesn’t make things easier but it does give comfort.
Indeed!
Your heart encourages me. I love how you see each person, faithfully. Love you, friend. You’re such a blessing. xoxo
Thank You friend! You’re a blessing to me too. Xoxo
A tough, and yet much needed, reminder!
Yes!
Great to see you via Five Min Fri. It’s so important to carry both of those truths, isn’t it – the sting of death, but also that it is not the final say. Sending love to you as you carry these situations in your heart
Thanks Tanya!
So sorry for the losses you are feeling. Thankful for Easter and the hope it’s message brings.
Thank You!
Amen! What a wonderful reminder! Yes, I don’t want to accept that day either. But death does not have the final word. Great comfort.
Thanks! I’m so glad death doesn’t have the final word.
So this hits me in a fresh way this morning: Jesus knows how much death hurts, from both sides. He mourned His friend Lazarus. Then He felt the agony of His final breath. There’s something really comforting in knowing that He understands the pain in that way.
This gives me new perspective too.
It is hard to accept the pain of death, especially when it impacts us or those we love. I’m grateful for the hope we have in Jesus that death will not triumph in the end.
Me too!
I think it is always good to remember the sting we feel here is due to our lost –but never theirs! They are in the Presence of God… where all of Heaven knows full well that Death has lost it’s sting. We just feel the slightest hint of it as we grieve. Praying for you and for your friends!
So true! Thanks for the prayers. They are greatly appreciated.
The sting of death is hard to accept, and we miss those who have gone on before. But God can give us peace as we trust we’ll see our loved ones again. Blessings to you!
It is. Blessings to you!
I really appreciate this, Tara. In a few days it will be the 3rd anniversary of my mom’s death. At her funeral the pastor spoke on the verses where Jesus says that he goes to prepare a place for us so that we can be where he is, forever. As with the verse you quoted, this truth makes it a bit easier to accept death (even though we still struggle and have questions), because we know we are never out of God’s presence, in death or in life.
Thank You! Thinking of you as you remember your mom. Those death anniversaries are so hard.
Tara, I’m so sorry for your friends’ loss this week and praying for them as they do the hard work of grieving. Death definitely has a sting! Thank God for extending hope to us through Jesus.
Thank You!
hi tara, hopeful words aren’t they? death didn’t have the final word at the cross and it won’t have the final word when we die either…hallelujah!
Yes indeed!
Death and sickness are so hard to accept, you are right 🙁 But I do like the hope in your words, and the friendship you invest in despite the pain.
Thank You!
Just beautiful Tara. Whether we live or die, yes we are the Lord’s. There is so much loss going on, but I am so grateful to know that this time is going to be so hard to even measure compared with eternity. Thanks for sharing your post today. You touched my heart.
Blessings for the week ahead.
Visiting from 67
Thanks Kelly! I’m glad my words touched your heart. Blessings to you too!