Within the past few months, Joy Lutheran has lost several members who have gone to their heavenly home. As I write this, yet another has passed on. As a fairly new member of Joy, I frequently don’t know those who have died. Often, ill health has kept them from participating as they once did in this church family. For me personally, the latest loss feels very different. We have lost a vital woman, an active participant, one who has greeted me and blessed me with her wonderful smile each and every time we met. Lee Willard, I will miss you! 
As we get older, we experience more and more the loss of those we love – among our families, our friends, and our church family. We feel increased loneliness. Sometimes, the gathering of our loved ones in heaven seems bigger than our gathering here on earth! The generations before us have gone on to their eternal reward and in our own generation siblings, friends, and perhaps even children have preceded us to their heavenly home.
We who remain, continue on our journey – and at times that is a journey of grief. But, we entrust ourselves and our dying loved ones to God’s hands. There will be longing, there will be despair; but we can respond with a strong “Yes, Lord” to God’s plans for us – whatever those plans may be. No denial will change the fact that each of us will die. No anger will lift us from our grief. No bargaining with our heavenly Father will change His plans for us. No depression will ease our pain. Oh, but we are so very human – we experience all of these!

If you are reading these words this morning, then I am assured of one thing – you are very much alive! Thanks be to God for these days that we are given! May we use each and every day to the glory of God.

Read John 14:1-4, and remember: God loves you unconditionally!  He prepares a place just for you!

Judy

Today’s reading:  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14:1-4