As odd as it may seem, it is my pleasure to walk with people through the death of their loved ones. To me it is an incredible honor and literally the last thing that I can do for the one who has gone ahead of us. I love to serve them and their families.
Although painful to witness and difficult to watch it is fascinating to experience these sacred times with people! Each experience is unique!
Truly, nothing gives me greater perspective or awareness of our need for grace from one another and from God then the days, hours leading up to and immediatley following the literal passing from this life into the next. And we are only allowed up to the doorway. We truly cannot go with them. It does not matter how much we love them, how old or how young they are or how much they want us to go or we want to go with them. They alone walk through to the other side.
I think that that is the hardest thing for us as families as loved ones--the actual separation between us and them. It is a hard line--no one can cross it--no matter how rich or poor or how much influence or affluence we possess. When the time comes we are separated.
I believe God understands and knows all about our pain of separation. It is what He dreads for us. It is what He hates for us, if we don't choose Him and the gift of eternal life. It is what makes us cry our eyes out after our loved one is gone.
I love the new perspective Ecclesiasates 3:11 (NKJV) says... Also He has put eternity in their hearts...God created us to live forever. We were made for that. Anything less than that feels wrong. He made us to share love. Death and dying separate us from our loved ones and put an end to our existence here so it is painful for us...here. So we grieve!
God understands. He SENT HIS Son, HIS ONE and ONLY Son purposely to die! When we encounter death generally it is unexpected and unwanted and seems anything but purposeful. But God willing gave His Son up and chose separation from Him that there might be a way made for us to live forever with Him and our loved ones in heaven!
That gives me hope! That enables me to be encouraged and to encourage others that we may grieve at the death and separation of our loved ones but we do not grieve without hope! Because of His provision we can be with Him this very day in Paradise!
That is why today when I walk with this family through the ceremony, celebration and ritual of saying goodbyes to their beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, son...I can be encouraged because it isn't forever! There is more to life than this!
In a few hours family and friends say, Goodbye to Charles Lewis Hunt. The family grieves the loss of a husband, father, brother, uncle, friend, here today but have hope of seeing him in heaven.