It was a day of celebrating life– tears and smiles, an entrance and an exit. One moment, I was gazing into the innocent eyes of a best friend’s new baby, Isaiah James – just over a day old, with a life of unknown possibilities ahead. An hour later, I was sitting in my usual seat at the church building- my comfy corner on a pew in the back. I sat among my church family, memorializing one of our dear sisters, Ms. Juanita, whose earthly days came to end.
Tears filled my eyes as I met the baby for the first time. I wondered what he was thinking as he stared back at me in curiosity- if he felt the warm hugs I gave his mama and heard the silly words I spoke to him, before his arrival to this world. Sixty minutes later, those joyful, baby tears I had sucked back in at the hospital decided to make a grand appearance during the memorial service- my strong and careful baby-holdin’ hands now shaky and frail, holding my copy of the tear-soaked program with sweet stories and tributes to Juanita’s life.
As I held him close to me, I pondered what great things baby Isaiah James might accomplish one day – if he’ll grow to be brilliant, strong, and beautiful like his mommy. If he will invent something amazing or just make an impact in someone’s life by spreading love like his parents do. As I listened to the sweet words about Ms. Juanita’s life, I pondered how many people she impacted – all across the nation, moving from place to place in support of her husband’s pursuit of spreading the Gospel. I thought of her encouraging smile, positive outlook and warm greetings on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, even in the midst of being bound to a wheelchair.
I surveyed the eyes of my dear friend as she locked eyes with her baby boy- the perfect little result of herself, her husband, and God’s faithfulness. I recognized the indescribable love of a baby connecting with their mommy – a natural and irreplaceable love. She wonders how her life will be with him here. I surveyed the eyes of Ms. Juanita’s husband, our beloved Guy, sitting on the front pew and replaying 64 years of timeless memories they created together. I recognized the indescribable love between husband and wife – a love that grows with the days, years, decades, and lasts beyond the goodbyes. He wonders how his life will be with her gone.
How can it be that a life and a death produced the same, recognizable peace and serenity in these two situations? Very different, yet very much the same. Uncertainty is the theme in the welcomes and the farewells. But Christ provides a certainty that we do not have to worry about the unknown- beginnings, middles, or ends alike- when our lives are in his hands. And so this new mama and this newly grieving husband share the certainty of God’s love and protection.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
I hope you have that certainty, my friend. If not, consider finding it. We closed the memorial service with the perfect song, “Because He Lives”. The lyrics matched my heart and experiences today.
“How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives,
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain day because he lives.
Because he lives
I can face tomorrow
Because he lives
All fear is gone
Because i know he holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because he lives
And then one day I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain.
And then, as death gives way to vict’ry,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know he reigns
Because he lives
I can face tomorrow
Because he lives
All fear is gone
Because i know he holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because he lives”
Remain hopeful. Stay anchored. Refuse to sink.
Sincerely,
Simone