A Heavy Heart

Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather,
And like vinegar on soda,
Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. Proverbs 25:20

But our brother in Christ has gone to be with Jesus, should we not rejoice? And we will, when all of us are there with the Lord. Right now there is separation, and each time we endure separation in this world our tears flow a bit more easily. We do rejoice for the dearly departed; that he is free from the pain he endured for many years in this world and even now we can know that the Lord will wipe away his tears of pain and sorrow. The Lord will wipe away our tears as well, but the fact that the Bible promises this means that tears will be shed. Nothing wrong with that; as we learn to love one another by our Lord's command the separations will cause sorrow. We grieve for one another in this world and especially for those left behind.

My brother in Christ has passed away from here and gone to be with my Lord Jesus. Jim will be missed by many in these parts. His memorial may not get the same attention nationally as President Bush, but that's okay with us. Jesus has the both of them, and while one served in the big political arena that is reported by the media, Jim served right here where it matters most to those who mourn him now.

Some months ago I resolved to believe that all who passed away from this world had gone to be with Jesus because my Lord loves them all. Some lives make it terribly difficult to comfort myself with that faith and there will be many who refuse to believe no matter what happens in this world, but with Jim it is so easy to see Jesus in his life. And it is the Holy Spirit in Jim who helped me to see that life even at a time in my life when I was not always paying attention to my brothers in Christ.

Grieving and sorrow must be for a little while. Rejoicing will come in that great reunion, and, oh, the songs we will sing then with our Lord Jesus.

To Sally and the many others who are missing Jim even now, love in Christ to a heavy heart,

Bucky