Love

I’m sitting at home with a streaming cold and hacking cough while Mr. Razzler is at his dad’s house, arranging his mum’s funeral and finances. I am not allowed to be with him. The family have also made it clear that I am not welcome at the funeral. They cornered Mr. Razzler on Friday and basically asked him to choose between them and me. I couldn’t let him do that so I have said I will not go. It broke my heart to do that. As Mr. Razzler’s wife I should be with him to love him through this time. But on that day I will have to love him from afar. Hopefully we will go to my mum’s house for a long weekend after the funeral is over. My family will look after him.

However, there have been blessings over the last few horribly difficult days. My entire family have rallied round my husband, with support and love. And Mr. Razzler was overwhelmed by the love and care shown to him yesterday by our church family. Love is everything.

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13.35

On Saturday night, while Mr. Razzler was talking to his daughter, I told his eldest grandson that I will not be at the funeral, so he must look after his Grandad. He rose to the challenge at once, with a simple “I will”, head held high, encouraging me to lift my own. At the end of the night as I was saying goodbye I told this remarkably genuine 14-year-old boy that I wouldn’t kiss him as I didn’t want to pass on my cold to him. He just smiled at me, walked over and enveloped me in a great big bear hug.

We are blessed.

God’s Comfort

Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Romans 12:15

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:1-5

The Risen King

How do people who don’t know the Lord cope with death? How do they reconcile such loss, how do they get on with their lives again? And what is my role as a Christian? I can listen and give cuddles, but where is the comfort, where is the hope?

How grateful I am that I know the Lord of Life. The Risen King who is alive and will reign forever, who has conquered death and made it possible for us to live with Him for eternity. Whenever someone I love has died I have always been in the midst of a community of people who have hope that this is not the end, this is not it forever. We will meet our loved ones again and we will rejoice together in Heaven with our Lord and God.

How I pray that this Risen King who loves this broken world so much that He died for it will make Himself known and that He will use me, weak as I am, to bring about His good, perfect and pleasing will.