Deathbed farewells are sad, but at least they were able to say goodbye.
It was early on a glorious fall morning almost sixteen years ago when I received the call. It was from my sister and she told me that our mother was dead. We had planned to travel together the following weekend to visit Mom, but, alas, I learned we were too late. So, I packed my bag quickly, said goodbye to my wife who had to manage the farm, and was off. Meeting my sister and brother-in-law in North Carolina, we traveled together to Virginia for her service and visitation. And since that time I always have thought to myself, why didn't we go earlier?
I am reminded of that as I think about all those Covid-19 patients who are on death's door and their loved ones can't even visit with them before they die. I'm sure that will haunt many of them as they look back on things and I think it is important for them to always remember going forward, as I certainly do, just how fleeting life is. It can be taken away from us at any time and we need to understand that. In my case, I had visited Mom many times before death and only a few years prior I had lived in my hometown and saw her once or twice a week, often running errands or just stopping by the share a cup of coffee and a chat. But my failure to be able to see her for that last time when I knew it was on the way has always left me with a sadness that I just guess will never depart as long as I am on this earth. So, I know how the families of those killed by this disease must feel when that last visit was withheld from them. I know it was necessary, but that doesn't make it any easier to swallow, a bitter pill, indeed.
In the case of today's situation, what has happened to those loved ones who couldn't make that final visit is something we need to ponder as we continue to find the why and the how of the impact of this horrible disease on our society and the world. Each day there is more evidence that what happened wasn't just a routine natural occurrence, but one that was fraught with either a serious mistake or shortcoming or even outright deception and evil. And while I know that God expects us to forgive our enemies even though it's hard, it doesn't mean we shouldn't find the truth of what happened with retribution for what was done if it is deserving. I pray that God will guide us as a nation according to His will in reaching the right conclusion and response to what has taken place. Yes, evil is alive and well on this earth and will be until our Lord and Savior returns in triumph. Accordingly, it is our job, as Brothers and Sisters in Christ, to counter that with grace, love and forgiveness in the way God expects of us. It's a challenge, indeed, but it's one that, if we believe what we claim we do, we can accomplish. Have a blessed Sunday.
I am reminded of that as I think about all those Covid-19 patients who are on death's door and their loved ones can't even visit with them before they die. I'm sure that will haunt many of them as they look back on things and I think it is important for them to always remember going forward, as I certainly do, just how fleeting life is. It can be taken away from us at any time and we need to understand that. In my case, I had visited Mom many times before death and only a few years prior I had lived in my hometown and saw her once or twice a week, often running errands or just stopping by the share a cup of coffee and a chat. But my failure to be able to see her for that last time when I knew it was on the way has always left me with a sadness that I just guess will never depart as long as I am on this earth. So, I know how the families of those killed by this disease must feel when that last visit was withheld from them. I know it was necessary, but that doesn't make it any easier to swallow, a bitter pill, indeed.
In the case of today's situation, what has happened to those loved ones who couldn't make that final visit is something we need to ponder as we continue to find the why and the how of the impact of this horrible disease on our society and the world. Each day there is more evidence that what happened wasn't just a routine natural occurrence, but one that was fraught with either a serious mistake or shortcoming or even outright deception and evil. And while I know that God expects us to forgive our enemies even though it's hard, it doesn't mean we shouldn't find the truth of what happened with retribution for what was done if it is deserving. I pray that God will guide us as a nation according to His will in reaching the right conclusion and response to what has taken place. Yes, evil is alive and well on this earth and will be until our Lord and Savior returns in triumph. Accordingly, it is our job, as Brothers and Sisters in Christ, to counter that with grace, love and forgiveness in the way God expects of us. It's a challenge, indeed, but it's one that, if we believe what we claim we do, we can accomplish. Have a blessed Sunday.
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