A celebration

I read those words and reread them, trying to get a sense of when it would happen. Finest food and wine and no tears. Doesn’t sound like our celebrations here on earth.

Whenever there’s a celebration here, it comes with mixed feelings. We have times of sadness and appreciate the celebrations with tears in our eyes because of something that caused us grief or sadness.

My niece was married not long after her paternal Grandma Jean died. My niece was close to her grandmother and had taken her for appointments as she was able, saying, “Grandma would have done the same for me.” At the reception, instead of giving gifts to the guests, there was a note from the bride and groom. They had given a sum of money to the organization that had most supported her grandmother in her last years. It was a celebration mixed with tears for I had cared about her Grandma Jean, too, as had many others in that room.

In this final celebration, Isaiah declares there will be no tears, reminding me of the verse in Revelations 21:4, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes.” They look forward to a new kind of celebration.

Lord Jesus, help us prepare for that final celebration, even when we have tears. Amen. — CRW