Sadness wrapped my heart after I read the last word from a
short email my cousin had sent me, thousands of miles away. She informed me
about one of our aunt’s passing and I immediately had a flashback of all
memories with every short visit I had paid when my own father was alive and my
mother, too. Her husband was my father’s brother and they were both close to
him. There was never a day when my father was dying that her and my uncle’s
presence was missing. They cheered up my dad. They offered spoonfuls of meals she cooked to his parched mouth. They encouraged my brothers and I
and helped us also cared for my dad prior to us arriving one by one from
different places of this world. When my brothers and I dozed off without our knowledge as weariness won over some nights, or days, they were there to keep my father company.
I knew the truth. Only memories we created and their love remained. I
would miss the laughter we all shared. The home-cooked meals that abound as we
all gathered in my father’s table. The catching up to fill the void of what was
missed during those times we were all apart.
Most of my uncles and aunties have passed away, along with
my parents. Living day to day would never be the same without them. There would
always be a void of different shapes in my heart. Only each of them could fill.
This Sunday, my heart is joyful despite the sad news. For
the hope Jesus had given to this fallen place. Because of His love and mercy,
He died to give life to those who believe in Him. His nailed, outstretched
arms, welcoming anyone with broken and true repentant hearts to His cross. What
seemed to be a cruel and undeserved punishment was His voluntary submission to
what the Father has willed. Like what’s prophesied, it happened. That Jesus
died, rose and lived again!!!
Wouldn't you know it? It’s a lot better…to live each day dying…Dying to self…In
order to live...
For to me, to live is
Christ and to die is gain. – Philippians 1:21 (NIV)
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer
I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting
in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to
die for us while we were still sinners. – Romans 5:8 (NLT)
