Gò0dNews for Everyone
Saying Goodbye
M
by Zebbie Brewster
y mom has gotten to where she is not physically
through and I will help them pray about it. My verse of
able to attend funerals anymore. Her heart and
encouragement in the Bible is Psalm 34:4, “I sought the Lord
prayers are with the family, yet she cannot go
and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.”
and personally show them her love and concern. I have
Fears in our lives can paralyze us. As Christians, we
decided that, when possible, I will go for her. Some of the
find peace in the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. The
people I know, as they are our family. However, there are
Comforter that Jesus left with us when He went away.
her friends that I do not know. I may know of them by how
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
their friendships have touched not only her life but the lives
Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the
of those she loves.
Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it
I will go by the funeral home to sign the book for her. I will write that she sends her love and prayers, and give
seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:16-18). Attending the funerals of Christians ready to go to their heavenly homes can indeed be a celebration of their life. It is their homegoing, their time of graduation from this life to the next. Death is the vehicle that God uses to get them to their heavenly home. We are left to carry on, and with God’s help, we will make it one moment at a time. Trusting God to give us His strength when ours is gone. In the last two funerals I had attended, the families had received a letter to be read by them after the passing of the loved one. As a person who has journaled all my life, this was so very touching. Hearing words of encouragement one more time from your loved one, cheering you on
them hugs from her. I try to stay for the funeral, and that
as you try to make sense of life without them being there
is where this experience has been so touching. To hear the
for you anymore.
words spoken over the dearly departed and the prayers
Grief is hard! It can be overwhelming. Jesus knew about
sent up. By the time the service is over, I feel like I really did
grief. He wept over the passing of his friend Lazarus. How
know this person and can see why my mom was friends
do we make it through the grief process? Hold onto the good
with them. She still visited with them over the phone when
memories and hold onto the Lord who knows what our heart
she could, and those phone visits would lift her up.
is going through. Like the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, to
We all need to be lifted up and receive an encouraging word! Sometimes, we are the ones God uses to lift others
be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. What a great place to be for those prepared to go!
I know needs lifting up, I don’t always know the right words to say. I can say I am sorry for what they are going
24 // May 2022
About The Author
up, and sometimes we need to be lifted up! When someone
Zebbie Brewster resides in Summerville, Georgia. She is an active member at Perennial Springs Baptist Church.
