When Change Hurts, Day 59 (Advent Day 21)

When Change Hurts.
You attend the funeral of a little boy you never met.
You are there in support of your friend who is playing the piano in the church you do youth ministry with. Few in the audience know your name, which makes it easier for the focus to remain at the front of the room.
At the front, the piano sits on stage left and the family who has said good-bye to their son and brother can remain, torn and broken, yet somehow able to stand, arms raised, in worship.

hopemommies.org

It was one of the most remarkable moments in your life.
Remarkable for the obvious: how can one worship -thanking, praising, and honoring God- in the midst of sudden death?

There is massive, painful change the family of that little boy has had to endure every day since his death, almost 20 years ago. It is near Christmas, and although you don't remember his name, it is without a doubt that they do, and the color of his eyes and favorite toy, too. They honor him by remembering him, even when it hurts.
And no doubt they are missing him as much today as they were all those years ago.

You no longer know them, never really did, but you hope, and imagine, that they are still clinging tight to the God who remained sovereign, holy, and pure, even in the wake of death. 

Change can hurt.
Change can also heal.
And bring about excitement.
Pure delight.

Just remember- a brave person's joy isn't dependent on circumstances. God has got this, whatever it is. Your family. Your career. Your relationships. He knows your pain. He cares about your pain. And He wants you to live bravely, in the strength and knowledge that He is working for your good and He is ultimately in control.* (all emphasis mine)

Be Brave: 

You know what I hope after these few days of talking about change together? 

I hope change just becomes this thing you plan for, 

you make space for in your life, and you choose to be brave about. 

That family who worshiped God in the front row of that humble, little church in which my friend played the piano on stage left, all those years ago? Somehow, in their heart-of-hearts, they had made a decision to believe that God was WHO He said He was. It was because of their believe that the circumstances of the day couldn't sway them. They remained, steadfast, trusting in the One Who Is always good. They were brave about embracing their change. 

*****
While in high school I starred acted in my church's production of "Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames". For those of you who are unfamiliar, this was a series of short skits each ending with death and the life you portrayed in your two minutes of showtime determined if the character went to Heaven or Hell based upon the producer's understanding of the Bible.

Rachel and I played stoners, which was really fun for me since it was so far removed from my actual life. We wore tie-dyed shirts and giggled a lot, like stoners, not amateur actresses. 
In our skit we were chased by demons and we screamed as they dragged us away.
Our skit was not my favorite.

That honor was the skirt of the family driving away from church in search of lunch. The biggest question they faced was McDonald's or Burger King? To which the father declared, "that settles it! We're going to Palermos!"

Unfortunately for the family, who was also mourning the loss of their young child as they drove to lunch that day, they were about to be struck by an oncoming vehicle and there would be no survivors.
The family loved God.
This was obvious in the two minute back-story.

As they stood together, at the bottom of the twenty or so steps built into the Pottsville Foursquare Church's alter, Jesus appears and there is great joy.
With each skit ending in a Heaven arrival, Jesus would appear and stand, arms outstretched, while the recently deceased person ran into His arms. 
Not in this skit.

As the family is standing in awe of Jesus, He does this thing and the entire audience is captive. I know it's coming and still- my heart!
Jesus moves to the side of the top-most step and ushers the little one to stand beside Him.
The child who had died earlier.
The child this very family was mourning over and remembering that day.
And together they stand, Jesus and the child, welcoming the family into Heaven.

Only God knows what Heaven truly will be like- He designed it so He has the greatest advantage. I like this thought, though. That we are welcomed in by Jesus and that Jesus, because of His very nature, and His great big heart, He showers us with both welcome and comfort. 

To the family in this story (the real family, not those from the play), I hope you find that Jesus is everything you hope that He is, and so much more.

  Day 21: The Angel plays her Flute and MORE BIRDS

*100 Days to Brave, devotional