Jimmy

​     A friend of mine lost both his adult sons to Covid last winter. Then, the week before Father’s Day he lost his dad. When Father’s Day came, he found himself for the first time in his life without father or sons in this world. I say I understand how horribly downcast he is – I probably don’t. It’s appalling to be suddenly so – unmoored. I pray for my friend. I pray for his comfort. But I know some wounds cannot be completely healed this side of eternity. The situation sparks several thoughts.

1. I’m a whiner sometimes. Most of us need to spend a little more time recognizing how good our lives are. And my friend’s story is at least something of a rarity here but sadly, an all too familiar tale in other locales. What have I got to complain about?
2. While I believe, as stated above, some wounds cannot be healed this side of eternity – my friend is, as Paul had it – crushed but not destroyed. He hurts but is not without hope. He is lonely but has the assurance of a day coming when those lost relationships will be restored. We are not to grieve as do those who are without such hope – and my friend won’t. He will shed tears and wish things were otherwise but I think his feet will not be pushed out of the way – he will not lose hope. How sad it must be for those who never had it to begin with.
3. Solomon pictured death as (among other metaphors) the snapping of a silver cord that binds us to life. I have long since added to that picture in my own mind and imagine the silver cord snaps one strand at a time. As the years pass, more and more of those we have important relationships with precede us in death. Before the end, there may well be more waiting for us there than remains for us here. It becomes a powerful draw and, for believers, the horror of death is often gone before death actually arrives.
4. God experienced the death (the horrible painful and unjust death) of His son and in the person of Jesus Christ, God experienced the agony of a son separated from His Father. God understands all our sufferings – including those of my friend. Understanding, He makes provision and at the end of the day, all who trust Him will be satisfied.