Good morning…
The faithful family of my friend has endured loss after loss, tragedy after tragedy, heartache after heartache, year after year. For decades I have walked alongside as a compassionate, committed prayer warrior. On Sunday, June 13th, I received this text from my forever friend.
“Please keep an eye on your phone today,” she requested. “We don’t have long with our girl. I’m out of prayers.”
“That’s when God steps toward us in our silence and the Holy Spirit implanted in us whispers wordless prayers into the open ears of our Father,” I replied. “I will keep my phone with me, so text anything on your heart.”
“You have to admit – it begs the question, ‘What has our family done to deserve such heartbreak?'” she shared her pain out loud. “Eliza has suffered so much. It feels so unfair.”
“I guess I see it a little differently,” I stepped vulnerably close. “I think we begin life in loving union with our caring Creator and we return to loving union with the eternal God. Earth is the place where pain, tears, and sorrow exist. Heaven is where we are freed from all our agony. I see these final moments on earth as a stepping over for Eliza, to be with God fully, face to face, joyfully forever.”
“The problem comes when loved ones need to stay here on earth without Eliza physically present in the same ole way, eye to eye, skin to skin, voice to voice,” I texted. “Her new way of ever-presence, everywhere, with us all at all times, this new way takes a lot of getting used to for her loved ones left on earth. The pain of separation is so very great. The ultimate joy of everlasting reunion will be so amazing one day. Today is just not that day.”
“What are your thoughts about this odd way of seeing things?” I wondered. “The older I get the thinner the veil between heaven and earth becomes.”
“Intellectually I know you are right,” she responded. “But Eliza and Greg were just starting their great love story. Both knew there would be no children so they planned to travel and enjoy the deep love they found in one another. It’s so sweet. Bittersweet really. Thanks for your thoughts. I love you.”
“So many never feel the deep, mutual love this couple shares, even for a minute on earth,” I texted back. “I love that they have had so many minutes of true love together. It is so sad that there may not be more days, months, and years together on earth. That is why Jesus split open the veil between earth and heaven when he died and rose again to sit at the right hand of our Father. Now we can live together in oneness with God and our loved ones as many moments as possible, both now and forever.”
“I love you too and I do not have any of this fully figured out,” I admitted. “I just think God is amazingly at work in ways we cannot understand right now. I entrust Eliza’s life to God’s higher will and God’s impeccable timing. It may take a long lifetime to notice beauty growing from this painful struggle. I will stay right beside you and we will lovingly listen for the LORD’s fresh revelations, uncovering our hidden way to deeper understanding and wider abundance, more and more, day by day.”
“Thank you so much,” she paused.
“To think this wedding photo was taken just five weeks ago,” she continued.
“Wow,” I replied. “And this is my favorite you sent me from that special day.”
“Yes! And this happy one,” she shared.
“Such joy!” I concluded. “This joy will never be stolen. So grateful these photos capture their exquisite love.”
Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits. Thank the God of all gods, His love never quits. Thank the Lord of all lords. His love never quits (Psalm 136:3-5, MSG).
…Sue…
P.S. For those of you who missed Eliza’s obituary after she went to heaven the follow day, touch this link to experience the love of God that never quit.
