-Excerpt from my book Never Ceasing: God’s Faithfulness in Grief In cutting his earthly life short, God has withheld no good thing from our Hans. For the Christian, to die is gain, and Hans has surely gotten the better end of the deal. He is basking in the light of God’s presence, utterly shielded from…… Continue reading Another Year Closer
Category: Excerpts from my book
Mission Accomplished
I do not believe that Hans will suffer a loss of reward simply because his earthly life was short. His time here was relatively brief, but it was complete; therefore, there was no longer any reason for him to stay among us. Instead, it was ordained of God that Hans should continue his life in…… Continue reading Mission Accomplished
No surrender
An excerpt from Never Ceasing: God’s Faithfulness in Grief … So, I must wait, but waiting does not have to mean stagnating. The Lord still has business to conduct in His universe. There are people yet to be born and souls yet to be saved. The time I have left is shorter than it feels;…… Continue reading No surrender
In My Father’s House
Hans spent most of his life right here at home in the house he grew up in. Of course, he went places and did things; he spent his first birthday in California while we were there visiting family. But, other than that, he never left Alaska. He never “got his own place”; never had to…… Continue reading In My Father’s House
Streams of Mercy, Never Ceasing
We sang ‘Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing’ at Hans’s memorial service. Surprisingly, I was able to sing, too, though my heart was splintering into little pieces. It was important to me that I sing that day. I wanted to do it for the Lord. I wanted to do it for Hans. The title of…… Continue reading Streams of Mercy, Never Ceasing
According to His Will
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:14-15 Every prayer I have ever uttered…… Continue reading According to His Will
Is My Child in Heaven?
When just a small boy, God saved Hans from the penalty and power of sin, assuring him a place in Heaven based on faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. So, when we say we will see Hans again, our level of assurance is quite high. But what about the parent who does not have…… Continue reading Is My Child in Heaven?
Just For Me
Bouncing around at the base of the hill, across the river that lay frozen between the fireworks techs and us spectators on the dock, was a light. A flashlight. A very bright flashlight. I saw the stream of light widen and play upon the hillside. Then the beam narrowed into a tightly focused square-shaped beam.…… Continue reading Just For Me
The Resurrection and the Life
So, how can I be so confident that I will see my son again? Is it because he was “a good boy,” was “never in any trouble,” “was no worse than anyone else?” Is it because his family goes to church every Sunday and Hans never missed a meeting unless he was sick? Is it…… Continue reading The Resurrection and the Life
The Rose Bush
The roots of the stump passed right through where the rose bush grew. Collateral damage. I knew it would be useless to argue. He dug up the lush and beautiful rose bush and we stuck it in a barrel of water. Finally, all the roots of the stump were out, leaving a crater about five…… Continue reading The Rose Bush
Wounded
Most of my book was written very early in my grief. These excerpts are not how it is for me now. Time has softened the blow and the Lord has carried me through the worst of it. I share for the sake of those who are just beginning life without their loved one. ~~~ “I…… Continue reading Wounded
The Sound of the Wind
Why does the sound of the wind break my heart?It carries away the long-ago laughterOf yesterday’s childrenAnd flings it beyond my reachThe wind runs without a careAlong trails blazed by my mighty hunterBrushing over the fields of your boyhoodAs if your absence does not matterYesterday’s gentle breeze returns empty-handedFierce and without mercyIts icy sting freezes…… Continue reading The Sound of the Wind
The Nearness of God
Grieving is difficult, exhausting work that can become counterproductive if indulged in overmuch. There comes a time when sorrow and anguish are not enough anymore. Not that it wears off, or grieving gets easier. It is just that I have come to an awareness that sorrow is not getting me anywhere. I see that my…… Continue reading The Nearness of God
Why Trust God? Why Follow Him?
Our God would not allow this terrible pain unless he had a very, very good reason. I trust Him for that. There is nothing else. I trust Him because He is good and because He does what He says He will do. He is real, and He sees our pain. We follow Him, not because…… Continue reading Why Trust God? Why Follow Him?
You Can Trust Him. 