On Death and Dying...

My niece, Amy, is getting married on Saturday. We are all so excited! My nephew, Tyler, had a private wedding...then we had Holly's wedding in 2011. Now it's Amy's turn! Weddings and babies...we love both events in our family!

In the midst of the wedding busyness...the excitement and joy and this time of blessing...came the news that Amy's grandfather, Sam, is dying.

Like, soon.

And so our hearts are breaking for them...for this time in their lives. Two events, so many different emotions. Two lives beginning...one life ending.

Timing, right? It stinks.

Or does it?

I talked to my sister-in-law the other night. Her parents have recently moved back "home" after living several years in another state. So they are now back in an area with long-time friends and lots of family support that will be much needed in the days and weeks and months to come. All of the family is in for the wedding...everyone. And friends that are coming for the wedding...can also see a precious loved one before he moves to his Father's House.

The family is close...taking pictures, having conversations, hugging tighter, making memories, cherishing the moments...good and sad. They know...

That Sam's days were ordered before he was born.
That the end is near.
That they have to let him go.
That he is ready.

I don't know Sam that well...but I know that he has a good name. He has lived a "good" life.

I think that he would be the first to tell you that the "good" in his life is because of that one day when he recognized he could never be good enough...and gave his heart and life over to the One who makes all things new.

Now, I can't say for sure, because these are my observations from the outside-looking-in, but I would think that his greatest joy in life would be his role as a grandfather. He probably never in a million years thought that his two daughters would give him 16 grandchildren! That's unlikely, right? He has taken GREAT JOY in all of them. I love seeing pictures of him with his grand-kids...his bright blue eyes would be shining...and his face would be wrapped in a huge smile.

But, a disease has over-taken him. He struggles and is in pain and is nearing the end of his life...and he honestly cannot wait.

To be done.
To be free.
To be whole.
To be with Jesus.

Funny how when Heaven is near for someone we love...it gets more near, more real...to the rest of us.

"...Behold, I am making all things new." Revelation 21:5