As the holidays approach, many of us struggle with the loss of someone we love and memories of how things used to be. A year ago, my precious grandmother, Bubba, passed from this life to the next. I remember the words of a very wise man who said that some of the darkest hours on this earth are the ones when heaven is rejoicing, because our loved ones are now in Paradise.

There are no words to express the loss we feel when someone we love is gone. My father died when I was 13 and I lived with a broken heart for many years. This past year I have mourned for my beloved Bubs, knowing I will never see her again this side of Heaven. But the sorrow, pain and loss are mine, not theirs. My dad and Bubba are safe in the arms of Jesus, laughing on glory’s side.

And they didn’t just go to be with the Lord. Jesus came to bring them home.

Jesus promised that He will come back for us. He said, “In My Father’s house are many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me.” John 14:2-3

If we know Jesus, we have assurance that when we die, we won’t be walking a dark hallway to an unknown future. We will be running into the arms of a loving Savior who ushers us to Heaven. He will carry us home as we rejoice in the freedom of no more earthly body. No more pain. No more tears. No more suffering. When we run into the arms of Jesus our eternity in Paradise begins.

None of us knows the day or time we’ll breathe our last breath. For most of us, we will endure broken hearts as we say our goodbyes to those who go before us. In this time of mourning, there are some things that can help:

1. Cry to Jesus. Kneel before the Lord and allow Him to hold you and comfort you. No matter what has happened in your life to this point, Jesus has open arms. He loves you. He cries with you. And He wants to go with you one step at a time.

2. Hold on to memories. Memories are treasures of the life we lived with our loved ones. We don’t need to give them up. We don’t need to pack them away. Physical reminders may fade with time but our memories don’t have to. We can smile and laugh as we remember the funny things they used to say and do. We can cry and mourn as we remember the special moments we shared.

3. Remember that out of death comes new life. A seed dies and is buried before it sprouts new life. So too our physical bodies die before our souls are raised to new life. For those who know Jesus, death is the start of life in Paradise. It’s not the end. It’s the beginning. And those who have gone before us will be rejoicing with us when our new life begins.

If you are mourning today, please know that you’re not alone. I am here to sit with you in this time of sorrow. How may I pray for you? Please post a comment or send a confidential email to Joy@RisingAboveRealLife.com .

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die… a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2, 4

May I pray? Heavenly Father, I lift up those who are mourning. I specifically pray anyone reading this who has lost someone dear to them. Lord, the pain is overwhelming. The loss is beyond words. But You know. You know each person by name. You know each situation. Please hold them tight. Fill them with Your peace that is beyond understanding. May they take comfort in knowing that You bring new life out of death. And may today be a reminder for all of us that life is short. Jesus, thank You for giving assurance that when our time comes, You will be there to carry us home. Amen.