A Loss In The Family

You never know which way your day will lead you.  All the more reason the proverb instructs us to "Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He shall direct your path".  We do well to simply wake up each morning with the full use of our minds and bodies; let alone have sufficient food, clothing, and shelter at our disposal.  The weather has recently made a drastic change from sunny skies to snow and chilling winds. The family and I had decided to retire to the comfort of our home and enjoy a movie together.  We had even gone as far as to put on our pajamas.  My cell phone rang about 30 minutes into the feature and when I answered it the familiar voice of my dear friend whom I had met while working at the Veterans Hospital.  The strain in her voice alerted me that there was something that was amiss.  "Dennis, my son is dead. My son is dead". I quickly collected their address and the family and I proceeded to get dressed.  Getting ready to leave was another story.  Tears freely fell from my wife's eyes as she ironed a blouse.  I numbly selected a tie from my closet to accompany my black shirt and trousers I had chosen.  My friend had just lost a 24 year old son; her husband, a step-son.  Without elaborating too much, I will merely say that the wounds of the loss of our own 25 year old son, my step-son, four years ago were all to familiar to us.  I read a verse from 2 Corinthians, prayed with Eddrenna and David, and we were on our way. Did my wife and I intend on going to our friend's home to tell them that they will be alright or that we are living examples of "How I got over"? Far from it.  We were prepared to do nothing but cry alongside of them.  Whatever words were to be spoken  would have to come from the Lord.  Later that evening our gathering was mixed with tears, andl aughter, (their pastor was there and it is always amusing to hear of the strange foods he likes to consume such as alligator and guinea pig). We ate KFC and listened to each other's conversations, reviewed photographs, and sang songs and prayed.  Love covers a multitude of faults.  There were no accusations being made in their home; no angry words being yelled out towards God or any person.  Only a tender quietness that those who love God and each other can manifest in a single room of such a diverse group of individuals. 
I believe that our friends will get better as each day passes; but the days will noticeably pass by much slower than before.  So many questions, so many hopes, so many prayers and yet....

Farther along we'll know all about it, farther along we'll understand why. Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine. We'll understand it all by and by.

Love one another extra hard today, and forgive.
Dennis