I realize I'm pretty much just writing this for myself; I don't think anyone else reads this. Blogging this infrequently will cause that. That's okay, I suppose.
Rough week. Wednesday was my brother's birthday. Had he not died last year, he would have been 45. It was going to be difficult anyway, but then I saw a post by one of his kids on facebook, and that made it even harder. Even more than myself, mom, or (remaining) sister, they are going to have to deal with his death, and how it happened.
Today was the one year anniversary of my sister Andrea's death. It hit me harder than I thought. Maybe it's because it came right after my brother's birthday. More likely, it's because I never really dealt with it. I mean, I cried and grieved, but never really let go as completely as I should have. Instead, I just packed the emotions down like I usually do. I suppose one day the the lid's going to blow off, but I guess not today.
God is good. Completely, and all the time. I know that, but even when you know that someone has gone on to heaven, you still miss the phone calls you can't make to talk about stuff, the memories you can't share, and all of the "stupid stuff" we take for granted.
I miss my brother and sister. And it hurts.
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About Me
- Jim Bird
- Married since 1996 to my amazing wife, Shanna. Our lives got even better when we welcomed our only child, Abbey into our lives. Planning to follow God's call and move to Greenville, NC as soon as possible to work at Discovery Church (www.discoverychurchonline.com) to work in the "Next Steps" ministry.
Logos
Verse:
John 3:16; Jn 3:16; John 3
Keyword:
Salvation, Jesus, Gospel
With Operators:
AND, OR, NOT, “ ”
5 comments:
Jim,
We lost our "foster son" Chris 7 years ago on March 24th. April 20 would have been his 27th birthday. Our whole family grieves for Chris each year. But we also remember the good things, the fun things we did together. The loss never goes away, the pain comes and goes but knowing in our hearts that Chris is up in Heaven with Jesus makes it so much easier. I love you my friend. I share in your pain, but remember the good times. You can't change what happened. Know that your brother and sister loved you and they both knew you loved them. As for your brothers kids... be there for them. Be the ear they need, the shoulder they need and be there to give the advice their dad would have. Tell them how much Jesus loves them and is there for them.
Hello Jim,
We have never met, but we share in the change of location of loved ones. I have been through the death of my Father, Mother and older Sister in a 2 year time period and got to know the folks at the funderal home by their first names. I try not to use the terminology of "lost" forasmuch as that would convey are uncertainty of their well being. We are confident are we not....
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Paul tells us...
Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Therefore, we I think about my parents and sister, I am turned from sorrow to rejoicing and honestly, I get a little jealous.
The scriptures I often went to for comfort are as follows...
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
An important function of these scriptures are of course for doctrine concerning the "catching away" of the body of Christ at the conclusion of the dispensation of the grace of God....but it is summed up in verse 18....
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The words afore mentioned are our source of comfort....I hope I have communicated what I have intended and you recieve it as so...
Grace and Peace,
Dean Hewitt
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Jim, I am not going to be able to communicate as well as the others. Just know you are in our thoughts and prayers. Don't let it stay deep for too long. Talk about it, share with your accountability group. It's healthy.
And I am glad you posted... I always check on your blog.
Hey Jim, like are you too busy to blog these days or what?
Jim, I'm missin' your blog buddy. Don't give up on us. : ) We love you.
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