In the most recent edition of "Forward in Christ", a periodical published through our Synod, there was a story about a pastor and his wife who lost their 2 1/2 year old son on Christmas Eve due to a fast moving illness which consumed him. They had no worship that night, as you might expect, but the pastor did conduct the festival service on Christmas morning, to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Without this babe, he said, he could never have peace with the loss of his babe. I get that.
As I lie here and think about it, my friend, Linda, comes to mind. A couple years ago I was able to meet her good friend, Angie, and meet again Debbie and Chris, with whom Linda works out nearly every morning. We were lunching at the Harborside just before Christmas and having a marvelous time. Angie was telling me how Linda talked about Justin and me often, and she felt like she knew us already. I felt like I knew her as well.
Linda had reported what a sweetheart Justin is (of course!), and as we gushed over him, my phone went off. I excused myself to talk to Justin, calling from FL. When I came back from the chat with him, I told them what he had to say. Justin was cautioning me to NOT listen to the first hour of our favorite radio show that day because the guest host was talking about the unopened gifts under the Christmas trees of the homes of those slaughtered in CT at the school shooting. He is familiar with that sadness, that empty feeling, and knew it would upset his mother. So he called to warn me. The ladies were moved when I told them why he called. It was so thoughtful of him to be looking out for me this far away.
I had shared this experience with my sister, Lynn, then, and a few nights later, she presented her youngest grandson, Angelo, with a stuffed lion. This lion had been on her shelf for over a decade (oh my, that sounds like a long time!), intended for Timmy's birthday the year he died. Lynn took that unopened present and gave it to Angelo, to open. I just love that. Brings tears to my eyes yet today. Thinking now about all the parents out there who have unopened gifts intended for those no longer here. I am glad to have the opened gift, the comfort of knowing that my Redeemer lives and my loved one is with Him in eternal bliss. There are no tears where he is, only bliss beyond compare, where everyday is Easter and everyday is Christmas. "How my heart yearns within me..."
