I recently lost a great uncle. He was someone who always made me laugh when I saw him. He was just funny. When I was a little girl, he lived far away on the opposite side of the country from me. But him and my aunt and myself would write letters to stay in touch. This was before text messaging, cell phones, and when people actually still had some appreciation for letters in the mail. Every so often he would be able to come here and visit. It was always a big deal, as it could only happen every so often. One year he sent me a book, one in which would help me be a better writer. Somehow, he knew that writing was something that was calling me. These last couple of years he came for a visit and stayed. While here he got cancer. In the meanness of it, he wasn’t quite as he once was. Yet, he still made me laugh. A couple weeks prior to his passing, we visited him. We said our I love yous to each other and I felt it. I knew he knew that I loved him and I knew he loved me too. He even asked for my husband. Just so he could tell him to take good care of me. Of course, my husband agreed. That was the last time I saw him. When I found out he had passed it hurt. Although I know he had lived a good fulfilling life. He was older and had years under him. Now he suffers no longer, there is peace in that. I am grateful for all the beautiful memories that I got to have. I Know other loved ones are too. Time is fleeting, life is fragile. When we handle life with love it carries strength even after we’re gone. For what is left in its place when we go, is beautiful memories to hang onto. And when we believe in Christ, we know that it isn’t the end. We hold onto what remains and hold tight to the hope of what is yet to come. I hear his voice, I see his smile still in my mind, and I am grateful to God for the time in which we had. Friend, many of us have lost loved ones in some way or another. Especially as we age. May we hold tight to their memory and praise God for the gift of them. May we not lose hope of forever someday.

Erin Fitts-Brower

Hope of forever

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.