Hello My Chickadees,
It’s been a while since I’ve reached out to you, and I must share, I’ve missed you. Sometimes as we journey along our way, life happens, and we’re forced to take an unexpected detour.
In my case, it has been the loss of several of my friends. I’ve had to say “so long for now” to several members of my village—as the saying goes—‘Parting is such sweet sorrow.’ In writing this, it hit me, as sweet as it may be for our loved one who has transitioned home to the loving arms of our Daddy, it doesn’t feel sweet for those of us who mourn our loss. I say “our loss,” because those who have a relationship with God exchange mortality for immortality and they have everything that really matters. Paul states in the Bible, “…for them, loss is gain.” They have eternal peace, joy and happiness. As much as they love us, rightfully, they love God more. When He called them, they answered.
Every person I have spoken to who has had a near-death experience, and remembered it, told me they did not want to come back. The beauty, the peace, and the love they experienced was overwhelming. Talking with them confirmed my belief that each of us is created for a purpose. God has a plan for utilizing the gifts and talents He placed in us to share with those He places in our path to express His glory in the earth. We all need one another. We need each other’s gifts and talents to glorify God and be the ‘best version of ourselves.’ He made us inter-dependent upon one another. When we come together in the Assembly on the Sabbath (whether your Sabbath is Saturday or Sunday), the energy of His children coming together to worship Him feeds our spirits and energizes us to be about the work He calls us to do. Livestream is a wonderful blessing, but as I like to say, ‘Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing.’
God is a Healer. Actually, He is The Healer, but He doesn’t always heal the way we hope or expect Him to heal. Sometimes death, which the Bible describes as the last enemy that Christ will destroy when He returns (I Corinthians 15:24-26), is the ultimate healer. No more sickness, suffering, pain or trying to tame or color these wild gray hairs that defy even Miss Clairol. To exchange mortality for immortality means our work on this side is done—mission accomplished—and we will live on in our spirit bodies. Our choice on this side is to live our lives in such a way that eternity will be heaven and not the other place.
No one and nothing can really prepare you for losing a loved one. Sometimes it happens suddenly, in the twinkle of an eye, like my cousin’s husband who dropped her off at work, went back home to take a nap, and never woke up. Or my girlfriend/Soror who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and six weeks later was gone. Or a friend contracting a mysterious illness, lingering for several months while the medical professionals scratched their heads and searched their medical books, and we prayed for a cure. But instead, my friend answered the call to come home. Come home, my good and faithful servant, your work here is done. Come home and receive your rest—a rest from the trials and tribulations Jesus told us we would be met with in these fragile, frail, mortal bodies (John 16:33). But He didn’t put a period at the end of that sentence. He went on to tell us to “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” This tells us that because He overcame, if we are in Him, we are overcomers. Not only overcomers, but through Him, we are MORE than conquerors through Christ who strengthens us (Romans 8:31-39). He strengthens us for everything He allows us to encounter along our journey.
So, My Chickadees, those of us who are still on our Pilgrim Journey, are here because we have more work to do. We must hold our loved ones in our heart with the hope of being reunited with them when our work on this side is accomplished. In the meantime, we remember the gifts they deposited in our lives; whether that gift is a saying they would recite, a smile that warmed our heart, a message of encouragement when we were down, or a funny incident that makes us smile when we think about them. As long as we remember, they continue to live in us as we carry them in our hearts. Remember, spirit never dies. They are no longer confined to a body, and they can be wherever we are, watching over us, and praying for us.
As I write this message, it is near Memorial Day—a day which I recently learned was originally started by black folks in the South who wanted to honor the loved ones they lost while fighting in the Union Army during the Civil War—before it became a national holiday. We set aside this time to remember not only our fallen soldiers, but we honor all of our loved ones who sowed seeds into our lives, as they watch over us from heavenly places to see what we will do with what they planted in us.
I love you, My Chickadees, and I pray for you as I implore that you’re praying for me.
Peace and Blessings,
Gail
PS, Spread the word about “Good Morning My Chickadees.” We need to encourage one another with the encouragement God has instilled in us. Thank You to all who have already blessed me by buying and sharing my book with others.