death is a funny thing

Not funny "ha-ha", but funny in the way that it makes you think as your world is momentarily turned upside down and filled with sorrow.

As we pack up and get ready to head to Pennsylvania to celebrate the life of my grandmother, the majority of my thoughts are filled with memories of Mama and wonders of death and eternity.

Last week, Travis and I sat down to watch a movie on Netflix.  After scrolling through potential movies, pushing play on one, and then turning it off because of the language, we searched for another one and landed on a Christian movie - "The Encounter - Paradise Lost".  Now to be perfectly honest, some faith based films tend to drag on. {This one did.}  Drag on in the sense that they include much more dialogue and back story than really seems necessary to send a point/idea across.  But despite that, the point is always made.  Usually tears are involved, on my part.

All week, a line from the movie has been echoing in my heart.

Jesus said to a man, who ached for his son that was taken, unexpectedly, from him, and pleads with Jesus to bring him back, "I can bring him back.  But if you could see what he's seeing now.  If you could feel what he's feeling. You wouldn't even dream of calling him back to this fallen world, not even for a second."

Isn't that so perfectly phrased?  As Christians, we ache because of the physical loss of a loved one, but the eternity that Christ has prepared for us is far sweeter than the sweetest life on earth could ever be.

Jesus [in the movie] continues, "And I guarantee you, that if you put your faith in me, you'll be reunited with Timothy forever.  There."

Just as the man was begging Jesus to bring his son back to him, Jesus pleads with us to put our faith and trust in Him.  When we give our lives over to Him, heaven becomes our eternity.  Knowing that we will, one day, see our loved ones who have passed before us in the presence of our risen King, is the greatest gift to have ever been given.

Mama may have left this world, but she is in a far, far better place, where we will, one day, reunite in His glory. If we could have her back, we would lovingly decline the offer.

I'm sure there will be lots of reminiscing, tears, and tearful laughter over the weekend, but we will all take comfort in the fact that she is living the most beautiful, everlasting life because of God's love for her and her love for God.  

And to that, I say AMEN.