One of the most beautiful things that can happen to a couple is the gift of a child. When my wife conceived, she went bananas and told everyone in her phone book that she is pregnant. It was crazy, this is because after the horrendous incident that she had gone through several years ago, her womb was severely damaged and she was told by doctors that she can’t conceive and yet here she was pregnant. It was indeed a miracle!
Children represent among many other things, a lot of hope and promise. We see ourselves in our children and a whole new realm of possibilities in the future that lies ahead. That is why we work hard, save and sacrifice just to give them a better today and a bright future. When they die, every aspiration that we ever had for them just disappears away.
Extreme pain—terrible loss—indescribable suffering! These are just a few of the feelings and emotions felt by parents who have lost a child. Obviously, there is nothing that can alleviate that pain except for consolation from the Lord, the love of family and friends, and the passing of time. God’s word is one of the tools that he uses, though, to comfort us during times of terrible grief and mourning.
Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow].
God not only sympathizes with us when we suffer, but he also empathizes with us as well. His son died on the cross for our sins. So his love for us has an incredible way of turning things around on our behalf. Where there is grief and loss, God brings soothing and relief. Where there is pain and suffering, he brings peace and hope. He knows and understands your wounds.
One of the most insensitive things we can ever say to a grieving parent is that God needed a rose flower for his garden in heaven and that is why he picked your child and planted him there so that he can spend more time with him.
Like we said yesterday, there are no easy answers to this reality. We may ask, “Why me?”, “Why my child?” Only God can soothe that pain and bring eternal comfort that begins in time and graduates when we die and go to be with the Lord and then be reunited with our children.
