All too frequently we are faced with the loss of someone we care about; family, friend, neighbor, acquaintance. They have touched our hearts and lives through their love, a kind word, their laugh, a smile, a prayer.

The passing last week of a “godly one” brought this scripture to mind:

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones.” Psalm 116:15

As I thought about this verse, I remembered and I understood:

I remembered how excited my parents were when we came home for two weeks during the summer. My husband and I along with our children lived across the country and saw our families only once a year. I remembered how my mom would clean, cook, and bake while my dad mowed, pruned and trimmed, oiling the ice cream freezer and cleaning the grill in anticipation of outdoor barbeque's and ice cream cranking on those summer days so long ago. As our children grew older and headed off to college, I remembered how excited we were the closer time came for spring break or summer vacation.

Our sons, our daughter were coming home.

In anticipation of their homecoming, I remembered baking, cooking and cleaning while my husband pruned, trimmed and mowed. I remembered the laughter and excitement as the house filled with noisy chatter. I remembered the gloriously happy reunion; everyone talking at once, catching up on all that had happened since we had been apart.

I remembered, and I understood...

that so it is with our Heavenly Father and those among our family and friends who have gone on before us. Those who eagerly await our homecoming.

“But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 
1 Corinthians 15:54-55