Never Alone

Eleven months have passed since my dad died, and we’ve done almost all the “firsts”-the birthday he wanted so much to reach, the anniversary he so much wanted to celebrate, all the family times he so much enjoyed. We’ve passed them all, except of course the first anniversary of his death. That one still awaits us, and I suspect we will pass the day as we have every other “first”-with a few tears, a few chuckles, a profound sense of loss and a whole lot of gratitude for having him in our lives.

Death is a weird thing. None of us wants to go there, and yet our faith makes us bold enough to long for a time of no more tears, no more pain and no more death. And the truth is that we all will get there someday. In the meantime, we have to run the race set before us. The good news is that we don’t ever fight or run it alone. There are no depths, no heights, no lengths that are foreign to Jesus. Wherever you are today, whatever this day brings your way, my prayer is that you feel God’s loving presence and that you keep the faith.

Praise to you, God of all times. Be our strength and our goal! Amen. — HS