1 Corinthians 15:4 “There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies.”
How many children do you have? This was always such an easy question to answer until July 2 1997. My physical being felt like a dagger was piercing my heart, followed by a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I know each one of you have the exact date and time when that question and how to answer it almost destroyed you. My mind searched for how to answer. Is Katie still my daughter even though she is no longer here? If I mention I have two daughters, are they then going to ask me, oh, how old are they and what do they do? Yet I could not say the words, “I have one child,” because that was not true. I was also acutely aware of how uncomfortable this poor person is going to feel when I share my truth that my daughter had died. I would be greeted either with that look -- you know that look that says, I am so sorry I asked this question and how I would rather be talking to anyone but you right now. Or, I would get someone who was so loving and compassionate. They were truly interested and wanted me to share about who my daughter was. To deny my daughter’s existence to protect someone’s feelings was more than I could bear. She was so much a part of who I was. Katie and Sarah were the very thing that gave me the honor of becoming a mother.
So I soon found an answer that worked for me, and I practiced it often to be comfortable and confident in my response. I have two daughters -- one here on Earth and one in Heaven. Did you notice I did not say “had.” I believe my daughter “is.” In the poem, “Say the Name of My Child,” there is a stanza in the poem that reads, “My child’s name is written on my life. The sound of the voice replays within my mind. You feel my child is dead. I feel my child is of the dead and still lives. Ghost walks my soul, beckoning in future welcome. You say she was my child, I say is. Say the name of my child and say it again.” I will always be Sarah and Katie’s mom. I still have two daughters; one has just relocated. If I truly believe my daughter is alive, how can I not find a way to make my life matter and also to continue to make her life matter. We are storing treasures in Heaven not only for ourselves, but also for our child who has relocated to that land called Heaven.
Before our children are born, they are in our womb. We can’t see them or touch them, but we know we are carrying them. This is a time of preparation. We are busy preparing all the necessities we will need for when we bring them home. Then comes the day when the labor pains start and we then find ourselves doing the physical work of the revealing of life outside of the protective womb. We hold them and start the joy and heartache of forming this little person into a child of God. When our child’s day on Earth is done and they enter into Heaven, it is they who are now in a time of preparation. They are preparing for the time when we will be reunited with them for eternity. I always wonder all that our children will have to show us. All the things that no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him. Our children will be so excited to show us all they now understand.
I often imagine that meeting when I finally reach those golden gates. I wonder if the Lord understands that I am so excited to see my daughter. If I am to be truthful, maybe in my heart I want to see her first. I struggle with this so much. My guess is He understands my heart. He too was a Father and greeted His Son in Heaven and I am sure He couldn’t wait to say these words, well done, My good and faithful Son. I believe on that day the Lord will meet me with Katie in tow. What a great day that will be!
How many children do you have? This was always such an easy question to answer until July 2 1997. My physical being felt like a dagger was piercing my heart, followed by a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I know each one of you have the exact date and time when that question and how to answer it almost destroyed you. My mind searched for how to answer. Is Katie still my daughter even though she is no longer here? If I mention I have two daughters, are they then going to ask me, oh, how old are they and what do they do? Yet I could not say the words, “I have one child,” because that was not true. I was also acutely aware of how uncomfortable this poor person is going to feel when I share my truth that my daughter had died. I would be greeted either with that look -- you know that look that says, I am so sorry I asked this question and how I would rather be talking to anyone but you right now. Or, I would get someone who was so loving and compassionate. They were truly interested and wanted me to share about who my daughter was. To deny my daughter’s existence to protect someone’s feelings was more than I could bear. She was so much a part of who I was. Katie and Sarah were the very thing that gave me the honor of becoming a mother.
So I soon found an answer that worked for me, and I practiced it often to be comfortable and confident in my response. I have two daughters -- one here on Earth and one in Heaven. Did you notice I did not say “had.” I believe my daughter “is.” In the poem, “Say the Name of My Child,” there is a stanza in the poem that reads, “My child’s name is written on my life. The sound of the voice replays within my mind. You feel my child is dead. I feel my child is of the dead and still lives. Ghost walks my soul, beckoning in future welcome. You say she was my child, I say is. Say the name of my child and say it again.” I will always be Sarah and Katie’s mom. I still have two daughters; one has just relocated. If I truly believe my daughter is alive, how can I not find a way to make my life matter and also to continue to make her life matter. We are storing treasures in Heaven not only for ourselves, but also for our child who has relocated to that land called Heaven.
Before our children are born, they are in our womb. We can’t see them or touch them, but we know we are carrying them. This is a time of preparation. We are busy preparing all the necessities we will need for when we bring them home. Then comes the day when the labor pains start and we then find ourselves doing the physical work of the revealing of life outside of the protective womb. We hold them and start the joy and heartache of forming this little person into a child of God. When our child’s day on Earth is done and they enter into Heaven, it is they who are now in a time of preparation. They are preparing for the time when we will be reunited with them for eternity. I always wonder all that our children will have to show us. All the things that no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him. Our children will be so excited to show us all they now understand.
I often imagine that meeting when I finally reach those golden gates. I wonder if the Lord understands that I am so excited to see my daughter. If I am to be truthful, maybe in my heart I want to see her first. I struggle with this so much. My guess is He understands my heart. He too was a Father and greeted His Son in Heaven and I am sure He couldn’t wait to say these words, well done, My good and faithful Son. I believe on that day the Lord will meet me with Katie in tow. What a great day that will be!
Lord, we thank You for the promise that one day we will finally have that glorious body in Heaven.
