How Do I Say Goodbye?
By Sherry Kepley
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalms 34:18
I heard the doctor say, “Let’s call it 7:10.” It was 7:10 AM, and we had been with our Tanner all night long in the pediatric ICU. The doctor said those words as if they were nothing. He pulled open the curtain separating Tanner’s crib from the next child and went about his morning rounds. His day was just beginning as our lives came to a screeching halt. We had been there for nine days, watching our sweet baby boy fight for his life. How were we supposed to just walk away and leave our baby lying there? How do we make ourselves get into a car and drive off? How can we open the door to our home, seeing all of our baby’s things, knowing we will never hold him in our arms again?
The only answer is God. He brought us through the pitch-black darkness when we never thought we would make it. Through the Bible, we are shown the character of God. He is merciful. He is loving. He is faithful. Through our grief, we felt God’s presence with us.
Lamentations 3:32 NIV says, “Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love.”
And Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
This rang true each and every morning after we lost Tanner. God gave me strength to open my eyes and pull myself out of bed each morning to face another day. Mark 9:36-37 NET comforts me because it shows the special love Jesus has for children. It says, “He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in His arms, he said to them. ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.’”
I can close my eyes and envision Tanner safe in the arms of Jesus.
None of us are spared the agony that grief brings. But because of the gift of salvation through the perfect blood that Jesus shed on the cross, I know that our goodbye is only temporary. Tanner is already at home with Jesus, and one day his daddy and I will be there, too.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for never leaving us when our hearts are broken. Thank You for giving us Your word to bring us comfort when the pain seems too much to bear. Thank You for Your perfect love that You wrap around us, which makes it possible to face a new day. And thank You for Your promise to us, that by placing our faith in Jesus Christ, we will one day be at home with You in Heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen
For more encouragement, visit Sherry at facebook.com/Tippys-Thoughts-Sharing-My-Love-For-Jesus-101032141715474
© 2020 by Sherry Kepley. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Thursday, 22 October 2020.
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