The Good and the Bad

Although we've been extremely busy, lately, I've certainly had a lot of things running through my mind. The death of my granddad, the time with family, the very full schedule, the Coach's team in the playoffs. It's a lot to take in.

I can't articulate much of that well, yet, but there is something that has really stood out to me. Starting with this verse from Ecclesiastes:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Notice how all of those examples are contrasts?

My list would look something like this:

Extremely sad, yet blissfully happy

Chaos, yet peace

Life is very hard, yet very good
Tired, yet energized to face the new day

Hungry all the time, yet losing weight

Dirty house, yet cleaning all of the time

Training and disciplining children, yet enjoying them so much

Grieving death, yet rejoicing in life

Stretched beyond comprehension, but experiencing new depth in our marriage

This past week we celebrated the end of my grandfather's earthly life

and the beginning of life for a new baby niece.

Death and life.

They go hand in hand.

Death is a horrible, awful thing. It's painful, sad, tragic. Even for a life well-lived, it's heartbreaking to lose someone you love. It's also unavoidable.

And if it weren't for the hope we have in Christ, it would be unbearable.

Yet. . .

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The ONLY reason we can face death and not despair is because Christ conquered death on the cross. Death is a result of sin. It's ugly, it's painful and without Jesus it means separation from Him forever.

I'm so grateful for the HOPE. That we can have VICTORY. That someday I will see my wonderful granddad, again. And our tiny baby. And my grandmother. And my grandfather I never met. And so many others who have left their earthly bodies for their heavenly home.

Tell someone today about the HOPE we have in Christ.