La abuelita

It is close to 1am and I found myself in a blogish mood. I have a completely warped sleep pattern right now ever since I went on a last minute trip to the states for my grandmother’s funeral. So it was 2 weeks ago today around this moment that we first heard about our Mawmaw’s passing. It is still a blur how quickly everything happened. It doesn’t seem like it was 2 weeks ago, but it was. Between the travel and the emotion of the whole situation somehow you loose track of time.

So for those of you who did not know, 2 weeks ago I went to the states for my grandmother’s funeral. I wish Sarah could have come with me, but the Lord had it purposed otherwise. It was a bitter sweet time in the states. I didn’t like the fact that I had to leave Sarah behind nor the reason for my travel. It was a really odd feeling on top of that, somewhat of a numbness to what was going on. Upon arrival back in the states it wasn’t until we went for the family viewing at the funeral home that the reality began to sink in. The whole ordeal had happened so quickly I don’t think I truly had time to adjust to the reality of the situation.

The reality of our Mawmaw no longer being here on earth has sunk in. This was the woman who was somewhat of the backbone to her family. But, somewhere in all of this the awesome reality sinks in that this life is not our hope and future. Our hope and future is at home with our King and this is the reality that my grandmother is living. She isn’t at home with her King because we decided to create some false sense of comfort by saying, “Well she is in a better place now…” She is at home with her King because this is the promise the Word of God explicitly gives to those who are in right standing with Him only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. There is no act, good deed, or gesture that can ever place us in right standing before the King of Kings. Our adequacy, hope, and right standing can only be settled by the blood of Jesus Christ. This is the mystery in which I find great comfort.

I had the privilege to share a few words and pray at my grandmother’s funeral. Here is one passage that still resonates within me:

“A voice said ‘SHOUT!’ I asked, ‘What should I shout?’ ‘Shout that people are like the grass that dies away. Their beauty fades as quickly as the beauty of flowers in a field. The grass withers, and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people. The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”
-Isaiah 40:6-8