Goodbyes

Today was the funeral for a young woman I’ve only known for about a year.  She was engaging and energetic, full of life and easy to like.  We met during the soccer program at church; she and I spent a couple of days together in the initial preparations for the season to begin.  During those days we had time to chat and get to know each other a little.

She was single with a teenage son and her mother living with her.  Her son was the center of her world and she adored him.  She mentioned that she had recently been in contact with someone she dated in high school, but she didn’t know if she wanted to open that door again.  She just couldn’t decide.   I shared with her the fact that I had married a high school acquaintance just a few short years ago, and she wanted to know my story.  I won’t go into the details now, but it was God.  God made my way clear in some miraculous ways, and she found it all very interesting.  I told her that God would show her.  He would make it evident if this was His plan for her, and I promised to pray for her decisions.

Well, before you know it I see her one day with a man, the man.  She introduces us and we visit a minute or two.  And in a few days I get a message from her on facebook asking if I would make the bridesmaids dresses for her wedding!!  Evidently, she got her answer from God!!  I shared her excitement and looked forward to being a part of another cool story.

Some things just don’t make sense.  We can’t figure them out in our minds, and our souls long for answers. To lose a love unexpectedly, before they’ve grown old, truly is the ultimate test of our faith.  To find our way through the unbearable pain to believe that God is still good, still sovereign, still working.

This precious child of God is in His presence right now, seeing the full picture, knowing the answers to all the questions and having complete understanding.  Grief isn’t about the one we’ve lost, it’s about us.   It’s especially about those who were in her inner circle, those that had intimate connections with her, those that loved her the most.  Taking that next breath, waking up the next day, going through the motions of life when the earth has shifted, never to be the same again.  Wondering how to do this when they’re empty with no strength left.

So if you’re mourning the loss of this wonderful woman, know this:  We have a Father Who has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  Who is our Strength, our Refuge, our Shelter.  And He sent His son to bear our grief.  This is the comfort that we will make it through, that this darkness of soul will not destroy us, because He is light.  Rest in His unfailing love and find peace.

Now, if you knew Kelly, you know she liked to talk.  She could talk fast, and I’m pretty sure she hit a very high word quota each day!  And I’ll bet she is chattin it up with Jesus right now!!  🙂

For Kelly Parker – you blessed me, and this is my tribute to you.  You are loved and you are missed.  When you meet my Daddy (he’s a bit of a talker himself!) and my son, Charles, would you give them a great big hug from me and tell them I can’t wait to see them again??  Thanks