Compared to eternity, our grief is only a moment in time. The saddest heart can be assured that “the things that are seen are transient, but things that are unseen are eternal.” Keep scanning your eyes for heaven’s horizon because you’ll be reunited with loved ones someday soon.
I once attended a graveside service that blessed me like nothing else!
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and back in May 2017, my friend and I went to the funeral of Boris Vujicic, who had passed away from cancer. Boris was the father of Nick Vujicic, the dynamic evangelist born without arms or legs. I’m sure you’ve heard of Nick. Well, I felt especially blessed to be invited to the graveside service with the rest of the family. There were relatives from Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, all of them sang so powerfully and beautifully around Boris’ grave.
And as I sat in the shade and listened to this amazing family sing, Nick’s sister, twenty-year-old Michele at the time, she came up to introduce herself. She also shared a remarkable conversation that she had with her dad the day before he died. She said to me, “Joni, near the end, my father was restless and unable to let go. I was sitting by his bedside, and I told him, ‘Daddy, it’s okay. You can let go.’ He gathered his strength and said, ‘But, honey, I won’t be here to walk you down the aisle.’” Now, Michele wasn’t even engaged. And it hurt to watch her father feel so anxious in addition to his physical pain. Michele said, “Daddy, please don’t worry about my wedding. Don’t let that distress you. After all, you’re a man of Hebrews 11. You’re heading for a better country, a homeland in heaven. There’s nothing to miss about my earthly wedding. My dress is going to fade and become torn. My wedding photos will yellow with age. My body is going to grow old and turn to dust. But everything in heaven is going to last forever, and I will meet you there at the real wedding on the other side!”
Her father immediately relaxed. A smile crossed his face, and he weakly nodded. What she said had been true. He was heading for a far better country. And the next day, Michele’s father peacefully stepped into the other side of eternity. Somehow this young woman found the composure to say to her father not only fitting words, but true and selfless ones. She didn’t dwell on things she would miss, like her dad not being around to walk her down the aisle; rather, Michele focused on what her father needed to hear. True words. Powerful Hebrews 11 words. Her wedding dress will fade; her body will turn to dust. And these are the kind of facts we need to rehearse every day. And, oh, how they take the razor-sharp edge off of grief! Compared to eternity, our grief is only a moment in time. The saddest heart can be assured that “the things that are seen are transient, but things that are unseen are eternal.” It’s one way, perhaps the best way, to slowly work our way through the process of great loss. We keep our eyes scanning for heaven’s horizon. Because we will be home soon.
Maybe you’ve recently lost a family member, and, like Nick and Michele, you are working your way through deep grief. If so, I’d like to send you my gift today called “Comfort for Loss” – in it, you’re going to find plenty of helpful insights from the Bible and from good counselors to help you move forward through your loss. You can get your free copy of “Comfort for Loss” by clicking on Today’s Gift at joniradio.org. Oh, and one more thing. This story about Michele and her dad, Boris Vujicic? I share it in my book “Songs of Suffering.” It’s also a great book to give someone who is struggling with pain and loss. Besides that, don’t forget to ask for your gift today at joniradio.org. It’s waiting for you at joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends