"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" I Corinthians 15:55
It's interesting that the older you get the more you experience death. When you are small perhaps it's a distant relative or grandparent. It it is someone close to you it could even be an unexpected tragedy. Then you hit your 40's and the curse of Satan "Cancer" has inevitably struck someone you know or perhaps a car accident has taken someone you cherish. Then you hit past 70 and your friends from Bunco, church potlucks and shopping transition to Heaven pretty regularly. As a young woman I faced death with strength and muscle. Hardly a tear was shed when I lost two brothers, Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents. I would tell myself "I can do this without crying...I am strong!" Now...I cry. I cry a lot. I cry for my friends who were widowed way to early and are raising children alone. I cry for the kids navigating life without someone to cuddle on the couch with. I cry that people still have to handle the paperwork after tragic accidents when they can barely function.
As I watch my Mom's friends Bunco group decreasing in numbers or listen to them talking about friends who have passed away...in a strange way it's almost like they seem to rejoice? Tears streaming down smiling faces they talk of celebrations and congratulations. You made it! You lived life to the fullest! You died content with a smile on your face, people who love you around you, and loose ends tied up. Can I venture to say they seem successful? Successful because they paid all their bills. Successful because their children are grown, prosperous, and happy. Success because they still love Jesus and are leaving this world a better place because they were in it. Or successful because they overcame obstacles like champs and fought hard to the finish? A popular song right now says "Death where is your sting." If you are a Christian and you love the Lord with everything in you...the sting of death is muted. Some people may not have this testimony. They may be alone, scared and unsure of eternity. This makes me so sad. I want to die with a smile on my face. I want to barely feel the sting of death. I want my family and friends to smile with tears running down their faces. I want to hear them say she fought the good fight and share memories of those battles. I want to stand before my Lord with praise and thanksgiving. Overwhelmed with is presence I want to rejoice.
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