Life.....Death... NEW LIFE!

May 19, 2009

Yesterday morning I got a call from the memorial company that Danni’s stone had been set so I finished ironing and got my shoes. I had loaned our son my van so I didn’t have a way over to the graveyard to see it. I had a thought and within minutes I was making my way down the road on my daughters bicycle.

Danni is just across the field in the neighboring graveyard so I thought it would be a nice ride. I was struck by the quiet as I rode along; I couldn’t even hear the gears as I peddled. It was a nice day and soon I was turning into the little lane that bordered the cemetery.

I rode past markers that were old and new to the spot where we had laid her to rest. I took a picture of it and admired the workmanship with my fingers. There is something that happens when you see the grave marker in its place. It’s almost like a “period” at the end of the sentence of life. Everything is done and over with, complete.

Later that evening our family drove over to see Danni and bring her some solar “disco” lights as we called them that flash red, green and blue. She always did love to dance and she loved color, especially red, so I thought that would be appropriate for her little plot of land. We pounded them into the ground and checked them to make sure they were even.

Every time I go there to visit I think about 1Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” I can envision her coming forth from the ground with her new body that is imperishable ready to live and reign with him wherever he so desires.

What an awesome hope I have, what an awesome promise to someday see her and all our loved ones who have passed be raised to newness of life. Maybe I’ll be raised as well if the Lord takes me home between now and then.
The grave is not the end, but the beginning. And so I wait patiently, as we all do. Come quickly Lord Jesus, come quickly!