A hard thanks

Hello!

I have been counting blessings this year and this one is a hard one to count.  I got the news this week that my 13 month old cousin died.  Jayden was a joyous boy.  I held him once when he was only a couple weeks old.  He was a sweet baby boy.  I'm thankful I got to meet him.

My family gathers today to say goodbye.  There are many questions of 'Why.'  I don't have an answer to that one.  I'm not sure anyone can.  I do know that Jayden was a blessing to us all and will be greatly missed.  So I give thanks for his life.  It was short, but it was a blessing.  I firmly believe that God did not "take" him in the sense that he wanted his life to be so short or needed him in heaven.  I also firmly believe that God did receive him when he woke in eternity.  And so I can say along with Job that "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away; May the name of the Lord be praised."

Jayden joins a whole host of folks who have gone before us in our family.  He will not be alone.  We will have a hole in our lives and will go through all the "stages of grief," as if that can adequately describe the pain and loss that will be felt.  And yet, we have hope.  Hope that is as sure as what it is founded on - which is very sure.  We will see him again because our lives do not end at death.  Our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, has conquered death.  And so we say goodbye for this life, but look forward to a coming great reunion.

Please be in prayer for Jayden's Mom and his family!  Thank you Lord, for Jayden and for the blessing that he has been in our lives.  Help us all to hold on to you and to cling to that very sure hope!