“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”
2 Corinthians 5:1
Not all new beginnings are ones that we would choose. One of the most difficult of those I’ve seen is when a spouse dies and the remaining one is left facing life alone. If this comes much later in life when finding a new spouse is unlikely, it can be hard.
I think of my sister and the path of increasing difficulty she traveled. She cared for her husband through his decline and death. At age 90 she managed to take a flight across the country to visit a son, but eventually her health deteriorated, and travel was impossible. At 92 she left her home to enter a retirement facility and soon required a level of total care there. Her “earthly tent” was fading.
Near the end of her life, I traveled six hours to visit with her. Our conversation was open and honest. “Are you weary of life and ready for it to be over?” I asked. Her soft voice answered, “I belong to the Lord, and want to be here as long as He wants me to be here.” Four weeks later He called her Home.
Praise God for His promise of providential care for this life and beyond!
I think of my sister and the path of increasing difficulty she traveled. She cared for her husband through his decline and death. At age 90 she managed to take a flight across the country to visit a son, but eventually her health deteriorated, and travel was impossible. At 92 she left her home to enter a retirement facility and soon required a level of total care there. Her “earthly tent” was fading.
Near the end of her life, I traveled six hours to visit with her. Our conversation was open and honest. “Are you weary of life and ready for it to be over?” I asked. Her soft voice answered, “I belong to the Lord, and want to be here as long as He wants me to be here.” Four weeks later He called her Home.
Praise God for His promise of providential care for this life and beyond!
Scripture Focus
2 Corinthians 5:1-5
Insight
“Fear not, little flock, from the cross to the throne,/ From death into life He went for His own.” (Paul Rader, 1921)
Bible In A Year
- Isaiah 41-42
- Psalm 91
- Acts 14
