Reunion
November of 1945 to December of 2008. A total of 63 years. It was the union of a man and a woman raised during the Great Depression. Members of The Greatest Generation. There were many highs and only a few lows during that 6+ decades together. She grieved her loss of her husband for seven and a half years. Until yesterday morning, when my mother, Doris, was reunited with her husband and my dad, James when Mom left her earthly home for her eternal one.
I can see in my mind an image of Jesus extending one hand to welcome her, with the other arm holding my dad back for just a moment. What a moment that must have been. I don’t know if there are tears in Heaven, but if there are, then there were bucket loads of tears of celebration for her Homecoming.
For Mom, her body has been replaced with a new one. Her mind, which had suffered from the damage of at least two strokes, is restored. While we are here mourning her loss, she is dancing on the streets of gold with her life partner and true soul mate, probably wondering why we are sad at her passing.
If we live long enough as children, we will ultimately end up losing our parents. That is a fact that cannot be changed. It is not a pleasant chore that falls to us. And a chore that is not unique to my family. Yet the knowledge that both of my parents are now in the presence of Jesus, and have been reunited at last brings a smile to my face and a joy to my core that might seem contradictory. But we need to see not just the immediate situation; we need to have an awareness of the whole picture. And that whole picture involves both sides of Eternity.
One day that reunion will have me as a participant. I will see my parents, my son, and others that have gone ahead of me. Indeed, we will all face that moment when we cross from this world into the eternal one. The only question is, where will you spend it?
“Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die – ever. Do you believe this?’” – John 11:25-26 (Holman CSB)
There is the question that must ultimately be answered by us all. Is your faith in Jesus or something else? Because of the faith of my parents, I can have great comfort in the knowledge they have been reunited. And because of mine, I know beyond doubt that some day, we will be reunited as well.
The choice is yours to make. Choose wisely.