<</div>Bittersweet Blessings and Late-Summer Bouquets
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; ..and a time to heal."- The Teacher (Ecclesiastes 3:1,3 NIV)
"Some people are always grumbling that roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses."- Alphonse Karr
Dear Catherine,
Happy birthday, honey. I wish you were here.
Your gift this year is a late-summer bouquet. The bittersweet blessing of cooler nights and shorter days seems to have spurred the neighborhood flowers into furious bloom, a last-gasp effort that shouts, "We're not done yet!" Even the butterflies appear to have launched an August campaign to pollinate the planet, one bush at a time. As the sun moves south, the turquoise skies of summer are deepening to that autumn shade of azure, the postcard-perfect backdrop of a Rocky Mountain fall. You loved every season of your Colorado home, but this last week of August still belongs to you. God lent you to us as a late-summer gift.
You would be twenty-five today. To us, you will be forever fourteen. For several years your friends kept in touch with us; we joined the throngs of celebrants as they graduated, married, and moved on with their lives. Understandably a little gun-shy in crowds, your dad and I always grabbed a corner table for four; it seemed we could not attend any event without including our constant companions, bitter and sweet. Tears burned my throat as I hugged every bride, threatening to escape as even as I gushed over her dress. Finally we'd throw the rice and wish them well; off they would drive for their honeymoon as I cried all the way home in the car. I would have loved to have seen you get married.
Sorry, sweetie, I get caught up. On a brighter note, what's your birthday like in Heaven? Do you celebrate birthdays there? Does Jesus hug you tightly for me, laughing at your goofy sense of humor and tickling your funny bone? Oh, how I wish I could be there! As it is, I'm afraid I might have to call Him away from the party. Missing you on your birthday is so hard I can't stop the tears from coming. I need Jesus down here with me. He knows what it's like to feel sad.
"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me."-Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:38 NIV)
Jesus knows about suffering, both His and ours. To His disciples He said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b NIV) Did He know you would leave us so soon? Of course. Did He build you a nice home in Heaven? He promised He would, so I'm sure that He did. (John 14:1-4) I guess my real question for Him is: What does "taking heart" look like? How do I overcome a world full of brides and grandbabies and birthdays every year?
And He whispers, "Remember. Remember My gifts as well as My commands."
"Remember the friends I sent you? They give you their hugs, their presence, their prayers."
"Remember the Word I sent you? It's your invitation to the Party, and the promise of My love."
"Also remember I have work for you to do. Reaching out to others will rescue you from the pool of self-pity. Keep your eyes open for My assignments."
"Remember the Colorado skies you are so fond of? The 'someday' of eternity is coming. On that day, your azure skies will drop the act and run for cover. Even the splendor of the Milky Way at midnight cannot begin to compare with the glory of Heaven. Catherine is safe and happy and busy. To her, time has a different meaning. You will be here almost before she knows it, and almost before you know it, too. Be patient and wait for Me. On your 'someday' I will come and take you Home. In the meantime, I will help you through the hard days and rejoice with you on the good ones. And you still have good days to come. Trust Me."
Okay, Lord. Who can argue with that?
Catherine, here's your birthday bouquet, made of the flowers that bloom in late summer. The colorful ribbons that weave their way through it are my precious memories of your laughter, your kindness, and the strength of your will. The crystals that bounce back those sparkles of sunshine are the tears that have watered the growth of my soul. I send my love, I wish you the best, and with all my heart I look forward to the day I will see you again.
Happy birthday, honey.
Love, Mom
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. (Psalm 31;24 NIV)
"The hope of heaven under troubles is like wind and sails to the soul."- Samuel Rutherford.
"Some people are always grumbling that roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses."- Alphonse Karr
Dear Catherine,
Happy birthday, honey. I wish you were here.
Your gift this year is a late-summer bouquet. The bittersweet blessing of cooler nights and shorter days seems to have spurred the neighborhood flowers into furious bloom, a last-gasp effort that shouts, "We're not done yet!" Even the butterflies appear to have launched an August campaign to pollinate the planet, one bush at a time. As the sun moves south, the turquoise skies of summer are deepening to that autumn shade of azure, the postcard-perfect backdrop of a Rocky Mountain fall. You loved every season of your Colorado home, but this last week of August still belongs to you. God lent you to us as a late-summer gift.
You would be twenty-five today. To us, you will be forever fourteen. For several years your friends kept in touch with us; we joined the throngs of celebrants as they graduated, married, and moved on with their lives. Understandably a little gun-shy in crowds, your dad and I always grabbed a corner table for four; it seemed we could not attend any event without including our constant companions, bitter and sweet. Tears burned my throat as I hugged every bride, threatening to escape as even as I gushed over her dress. Finally we'd throw the rice and wish them well; off they would drive for their honeymoon as I cried all the way home in the car. I would have loved to have seen you get married.
Sorry, sweetie, I get caught up. On a brighter note, what's your birthday like in Heaven? Do you celebrate birthdays there? Does Jesus hug you tightly for me, laughing at your goofy sense of humor and tickling your funny bone? Oh, how I wish I could be there! As it is, I'm afraid I might have to call Him away from the party. Missing you on your birthday is so hard I can't stop the tears from coming. I need Jesus down here with me. He knows what it's like to feel sad.
"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me."-Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:38 NIV)
Jesus knows about suffering, both His and ours. To His disciples He said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b NIV) Did He know you would leave us so soon? Of course. Did He build you a nice home in Heaven? He promised He would, so I'm sure that He did. (John 14:1-4) I guess my real question for Him is: What does "taking heart" look like? How do I overcome a world full of brides and grandbabies and birthdays every year?
And He whispers, "Remember. Remember My gifts as well as My commands."
"Remember the friends I sent you? They give you their hugs, their presence, their prayers."
"Remember the Word I sent you? It's your invitation to the Party, and the promise of My love."
"Also remember I have work for you to do. Reaching out to others will rescue you from the pool of self-pity. Keep your eyes open for My assignments."
"Remember the Colorado skies you are so fond of? The 'someday' of eternity is coming. On that day, your azure skies will drop the act and run for cover. Even the splendor of the Milky Way at midnight cannot begin to compare with the glory of Heaven. Catherine is safe and happy and busy. To her, time has a different meaning. You will be here almost before she knows it, and almost before you know it, too. Be patient and wait for Me. On your 'someday' I will come and take you Home. In the meantime, I will help you through the hard days and rejoice with you on the good ones. And you still have good days to come. Trust Me."
Okay, Lord. Who can argue with that?
Catherine, here's your birthday bouquet, made of the flowers that bloom in late summer. The colorful ribbons that weave their way through it are my precious memories of your laughter, your kindness, and the strength of your will. The crystals that bounce back those sparkles of sunshine are the tears that have watered the growth of my soul. I send my love, I wish you the best, and with all my heart I look forward to the day I will see you again.
Happy birthday, honey.
Love, Mom
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. (Psalm 31;24 NIV)
"The hope of heaven under troubles is like wind and sails to the soul."- Samuel Rutherford.
Posted by Rachel Ophoff at 8/26/2010 3:50 PM 
Categories: Grief, Death of a Child, God, Heaven, Faith, Christian Writer, Hope, Jesus, Christian Blogger, The Bible, Acceptance
Tags: Bittersweet Blessings Late-Summer Bouquets Bible Ecclesiates 3 Hope Jesus Death of a child Acceptance
Categories: Grief, Death of a Child, God, Heaven, Faith, Christian Writer, Hope, Jesus, Christian Blogger, The Bible, Acceptance
Tags: Bittersweet Blessings Late-Summer Bouquets Bible Ecclesiates 3 Hope Jesus Death of a child Acceptance
My tears flow alongside yours - you are loved! Waiting for Heaven, sending blessings today.
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