You Can Be Strong When That's Your Only Choice -

You Can be Strong

A good friend of mine just lost her mother. I lost mine 31 years ago and my dad 26 years ago. It’s hard. If you were as close to your parents as I was to mine then when they are gone you feel like an orphan no matter how old you are. If you are lucky, like me, you have a sibling and his wife to support you, a husband and kids who do their best to help. But it’s still hard.

Today that same friend mentioned that her and her husband went to church alone for the first time after raising their three kids. That’s hard too. You want your children to grow, to fly, to find their own path in life but the empty nest is real. And it can feel very empty.

She mentioned another friend of ours whose husband died several years ago of a brain tumor. She raised her kids alone but with help from a loving sister-in law, and she’s gone to church alone ever since. I knew her husband personally and he was a good man who was way too young to die but life isn’t fair….it just isn’t.

I commented on her post that, “Strong is what we are when we have no choice,” and that’s true but it felt a bit unsympathetic when I said it.

I didn’t want to lose my mother at age 51. I wanted to share my children with her and have her spoil her grandchildren longer. But it wasn’t to be.

I feel so sorry for people who have to give up loved ones. Whether its from Covid, heart disease, or breast cancer. The younger they are the more sad it makes me.

But…..

There’s a song that we sing at church that reminds me of the end goal.

It was written by Jim Reeves and goes like this….

This world is not my home
I’m just passing through
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue

The Angels beckon me
From Heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home
In this world anymore

Oh Lord, you know
I have no friend like you
If Heaven’s not my home
Then Lord what will I do

The Angels beckon me
From Heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home
In this world anymore

I have a lovin’ mother
Just hovering up in Gloryland
And I don’t expect to stop
Until I shake her hand

She’s waiting now for me
In Heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home
In this world anymore

Oh Lord, you know
I have no friend like you
If Heaven’s not my home
Then Lord what will I doThe Angels beckon me
From Heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home

In this world anymoreJust over in Gloryland
We’ll live eternally
The saints on every hand
Are shouting victoryTheir songs of sweetest praise
Drift back from Heaven’s shore
And I can’t feel at home
In this world anymore

Oh Lord, you know
I have no friend like you
If Heaven’s not my home
Then Lord what will I doThe Angels beckon me
From Heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home
In this world anymore…

Take courage, friends. Hold fast to your faith. We will get there one day and then there will be no more sadness, no more empty nest, no more loss and tears.

Stay strong.