The Life of a man

What is the life of a man...
a son
a brother
a husband
a father
a grandfather
a uncle
a nephew
a friend

We learned almost a month ago that my uncle was dying of cancer. There were lots of questions, and lots of the unknown. It is interesting how man tries to determine something as complicated as death. Especially when we know that it is God who will unltimately determine it.

Then begins the process of grief...the questions, and again, lots of the unknown. And the pain, and the helplessness and hopelessness...and what to do with all of it.

and then we are reminded of God's promises:

No more tears. No more pain or grief or death. All of it will be removed, wiped out completely. We will be with God and he with us. Forever. So the comfort comes in knowing we have a merciful God waiting for us. We don't go alone-for he is with us.

...you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes though refind by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor, when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy for you are receiving the goal of your faith, salvation for your soul.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you , who by faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
(I Peter)

We also know that he cares for those who are left behind. Even Jesus wept when his friend Lazarus, died (John 11:35). He can provide comfort and peace if it is to Him we turn. We can have comfort in knowing that He has a plan, even when we don't understand it.

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the sun,a time to be born and a time fo die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrane, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ..I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing can be taken away.

We remember it is His timing, His Plan, and His choice alone.

Sometimes the path He chose for me has led through pleasant ways, through peaceful valleys, quiet streams with warm and sunny days. Sometimes the climb is steep and rough with darkness over head, with chilling winds and falling stones, but still this path I tread. I know this path was planned for me according to his will; I've trusted Him throughout the past and I will trust Him still. And someday he'll reveal to me the wisdom of His choice, then I'll know why this path was best and praise him and rejoice. (copied)

And we trust Him.

So we will say goodbye "for now", and you will be missed...your life here may have been cut short-but eternity is waiting for you...