Sweet Shannon

A sweet friend from our church 9 years ago, joined our Lord in Heaven today.  Her husband wrote these precious words to let us know Shannon is no longer in pain on this earth.  I was so touched & copied them here.  I don't think he would mind.

It is with great confidence and strength in our Lord Jesus Christ that I can tell you Shannon has gone to be with Him.  In this time of sorrow we have an even greater hope that we will see Shannon again in a day of joy when she shall have a body that decay cannot touch.

Thank you all for the overwhelming support and prayer through this trying time.  There is so much to say that words fail me.  And so though we grieve, we do so with great hope.  "For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep" (I Thessalonians 4:14). 

I have drawn hope and encouragement from King David's example.  In 2 Samuel 12, we read of David praying and fasting as he cried out to God for the life of his sick child.  He did this for seven days.  And then his child died.  Once David realized the child was dead, he stopped praying and fasting and ate a meal.  His servants were surprised by his actions. While his child was sick, David fasted, prayed, and wept.  Once his child died, David stopped praying and weeping, changed clothes, worshipped God, and ate some food.  His sudden change of actions didn't make sense to the servants.

David explained himself:  "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, 'Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that my child may live?'  But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, bue he will not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:22-23).

David was diligent in his prayers for healing.  He wept.  He grieved.  Once he heard his child was dead, instead of being overcome with grief, he worshipped.  He got up and continued life.  Though (I am sure) his sorrow was great, he took comfort in the fact that one day he would see his child again.  

Shannon has gone to be with Jesus.  Though we grieve, for her, death was gain (Phil. 1:21).  And so, though we grieve, we like David did for his son, can also worship God in the midst of our grief, looking forward to the day when we are reunited once again. 

T, for the family