The Brevity and Preciousness of Life

July 16, 2006 -

Several moments of life transpired today.

• Michele's brother's daughter was baptized today
• One of her cousins had a baby shower today
• Genevie, Michele's grandmother died today suddenly

It was a shock, like any other - no one expected Michele's grandmother to pass away, but now with my Michele grieving alone, and wanting some time alone, I write sobered by today's events. We were suppose to go to Michele's niece's baptism, instead we spend the day in vigil, and comforting family members.

I was at the hospital, and the immediate family was there. I firmly believe in being proactive with a patient in bed, and started to tell Michele's grandmother stories that made her laugh. Then I remembered her grandmother use to sing the old hymns, and started to sing a few, and among them, HOW GREAT THOU ART, and MY JESUS I LOVED THEE. In moments of seeing tears running down from Michele's father's eyes broken by the failing health of her mother, I turned once more to my faith, my songs and Christ Himself. And in the process, of that singing, I couldn't help but think that morning, this is how you want to send someone before the Lord. I was the lone singer, but I was there for a reason, and the only thing I could do was tell stories, and engage Genevie's heart and mind.

Later that afternoon, Genevie passed away suddenly. I was asked by the family to comfort Genevie's husband. I arrived at the resting home, and tried my best. I interviewed Dale about how they met, and how their relationship was. It was good, I had a time to remind him of the verse that Christ holds the keys of death. In God's grace I was able to see the preciousness of Christ and the fact I could share Him during this difficult time.

In times of grief, most people freeze, or attempt words of comfort that appears so trite. People mean well, but grief is so un-natural. I saw for the first time for myself the call of a Christian is to embrace realities of death, and face it to comfort others. You cannot sit there and say nothing. What is our Christian faith if we cannot pour the balm of comfort?

My thoughts of this event: It's so easy to jump on the circus wheel of life and go for a spin, but I saw the brevity and preciousness of life in the hospital room and in the silence tears of aching hearts. That's where life begins because death in his darkness, amplifies the light of life. It strips man of his hope and leaves him facing eternity, and mortality. It reminded me of the preciousness of Christ and His promise: I AM the resurrection and the LIFE. Christ doesn't seem to mean alot when the circus wheel spin, but you see Life in a totally different manner when death comes. It has a cruel way of making reality clear. No shadows or mirages.

Death has a habit of giving pause to the mind and soul.


Thank God for the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Prayer requests
• Pray for the comfort and strength of the family
• Pray for Craig, Michele's dad who is the only child and taking this hard
• Pray for the memorial service this Wednesday afternoon