Death Is a Personal Experience  

Posted by Patty Patty

It has been awhile since I have posted. I have written some but just haven't published them yet.

I will soon. I had something on my heart tonight and felt I needed to share.

I became a Christian at the age of 6, from that time I have heard over and over, through songs, messages and reading my bible that our ultimate goal is to make it to Heaven to share eternity with God. I have always loved singing about going to Heaven and dreaming about what it will be like. Just the thought of it can give me chills. It is what I long for and why I strive daily to keep in God's will for my life.
But it all seems so different when someone we love leaves us. When they have reached their finally destination, their ultimate goal and we are left here grieving our loss.

Corinne told me one day that she did not grieve for Justin and then worried that what she had said upset me. It didn't because once I processed what she had said, I realized that is what I was feeling. I don't grieve for Justin, because he has made it, he is basking in all the wonders of Heaven and is able to be in the midst of Jesus. It is me that I grieve for, my loss, my longing to hold him, to have him say, love ya mom, to have him call me early in the morning and say, time to get up lady, to see him playing with Camden or to even have one of our disagreements.

I have said as a mother it would be so selfish of me to want him to come back now that he has made it to paradise. Well, that is my spiritual side but I can tell you my flesh is selfish. I admit it.

I need to find a way to recalibrate my balance because right now my spirit and flesh are all out of whack. I find I am struggling to keep my head clear because the back and forth thoughts never stop. These emotions are the hardest things to try and explain to someone that has never lost a child. They are so intense and draining. Sometimes I find it easier to not try to explain and just stay by myself. It is not the healthiest thing to do but it is all I know to do right now and then I feel guilty for staying away. It is a roller coaster that never ends. It is true, you grieve as intensely as you loved.

A few days ago mama shared with me that she had an overwhelming feeling that she would be with Justin soon. My first response was, don't do this to me, not now and then I remembered how so many times I wished God would just come and get me but then I remembered those that would be left here and I would feel so torn. That thought brought on a whole new emotions and confusion. I love my mother so much and I would do anything I could to make her life better and to make her happy but I am just not ready to let her go. I know she has struggled through so many hardships in her life. I know she is probably worn and tired and what she has strived for all of her Christian life might be looking more appealing to her but I am selfish. The thought of losing a child and a mother is more than I can comprehend right now.

God is not the author of confusion, so I know it is not God's will for me to be living in this state of mind.

I am thankful that through my deepest heartbreak my faith in God has not faltered and that He understands me and my confusion and thankful that through grace he forgives me for my shortcomings and I pray He will bring peace and understanding to my heart and show me how to live again.

Death is such a personal experience for each individual. Everyone handles it differently and it depends greatly on which side of it you are on

This entry was posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 and is filed under , , , , , . You can leave a response and follow any responses to this entry through the Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) .

3 comments

I wish I had your email address so I could write to you that way. I can not begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am for your loss. I was moved to tears reading your posts. I can't begin to imagine how you feel when I, a perfect stranger, feels so emotional over your words.

I was born and raised a Christian. I believe in Christ, love Christ, and know that Christ understands all our desires and our concerns. I do not doubt that you will one day rejoice with your son for you will see each other again. I know that Heaven is real. I know that God does things that we will never understand until we live through it, or see Him again in Heaven.

How I wish I could give you words of solace during this time. All I can think of saying is that our Heavenly Father knows what He's doing and that there is work that He needs Justin for on the other side. Maybe one day you'll know what that is.

I believe in eternal families. I believe that you can be with your family forever in Heaven.

I'll stop before writing a novel (I tend to do that at times). If you have any questions about my belief in Christ and my confidence in that you will see your son again and that you can be with your son forever, let me know. alliebrownie@gmail.com

Oh yeah, I'll make you a layout. I would right now, but it's nearly one in the morning (just finished feeding my two month old).

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