Yesterday we celebrated the life and love of my husband’s dad, here with his bride in 1961. They celebrated 50 years of marriage last month, and on Monday, he went to meet his Creator. And in his passing from the land of the dying to the land of the living, we have seen the hand of God on his life. Now he knows fully, even as he is fully known. I will return next week to a regular posting schedule, and until then may you embrace the glimpses of eternity that show up in the smallest of ways, and may you celebrate this life as a mere shadow of the one to come.
Southern Gal says
July 29, 2011 at 9:54 AMI’m so sorry for your loss, Emily, yet rejoicing with the angels for a saint who has gone home. Life just beginning….
Noelle says
July 29, 2011 at 10:41 AMBeautifully said….today I will cherish the time God has given me here, with the family he has given me! Realizing that life is just a vapor
Charming's Mama says
July 29, 2011 at 10:52 AMVery well said Emily, we truly can rejoice through tears even in sorrow. Sometimes when we grieve it helps to read about others who have also traveled that road. I wrote about the loss of my parents here http://thecharmingtyrant.blogspot.com/2010/10/ill-fly-away.html and here http://thecharmingtyrant.blogspot.com/2011/01/remembering.html
I only leave you the links as a suggestion, don’t feel obligated or pressured to follow them. It was cathartic for me to write them and in doing so I hope that they have helped others.
In His Name . . .
Sydney
Meg says
July 29, 2011 at 11:25 AMI hope that you, your husband, and the family are flooded with wonderful memories and stories of your father-in-law and the Lord is showing up with love and tenderness when it hurts the most.
Linda says
July 29, 2011 at 11:32 AMYour words are beautiful Emily. What a precious hope we have. Praying the Father will draw all of you close and fill you with His peace and presence.
Denise says
July 29, 2011 at 11:57 AMI am sorry for your loss. There are no words to convey how hard it is to lose someone, even knowing they are where they are meant to be… May God’s goodness reign over your family.
Aimee says
July 29, 2011 at 12:04 PMMy mother in law died a week ago on Sunday…I feel your loss…the Hope of Heaven becomes so *real* and rich though and I love dreaming of the beauty of the Body up there…that “great cloud of witnesses”!
Susan in the Boonies says
July 29, 2011 at 12:07 PMTalk about a picture that speaks a thousand words! That picture is Life magazine worthy!
I’m so sorry for your loss, yet I’m imagining how great his joy must be at this moment
moxiemandie says
July 29, 2011 at 12:16 PMI’m sorry for your loss Emily.
My husband lost his grandfather yesterday, and the week has been such a mixture of sweetness & sad, but the peace is there.
May it be with you all as well…
Shilo says
July 29, 2011 at 12:47 PMSo sorry for your great loss. May the Lord’s arms surround you with comfort as only He can.
Flower Patch Farmgirl says
July 29, 2011 at 1:38 PMAnd he’ll soar………
Beautiful photo, beautiful truths. Praying for your family.
Scooper says
July 29, 2011 at 1:47 PMMy tears and prayers are with you and yours today, my friend. How difficult that he is no longer here in the same way. How beautiful that He is now with Jesus. Thank you for sharing the many moments, stories, and gifts of your life with us here in this place.
Grace and peace….
Barbie says
July 29, 2011 at 1:50 PMRejoicing that Heaven is receiving one such as this. Praying peace for the family in your loss.
Jessica @ This Blessed Life says
July 29, 2011 at 2:57 PMWhat a spectacular picture – and rare gift. I don’t know a single person who got married in the 50s or 60s who has such a candid wedding shot. How beautiful. So sorry for your family’s loss but thankful you have the peace of knowing he is with Jesus now.
Julie says
July 29, 2011 at 2:57 PM“passing from the land of the dying to the land of the living…” That is such a beautiful way to view his journey. Praying that God will comfort you with joyful memories.
Emily says
July 29, 2011 at 3:23 PMOur pastor actually mentioned something like that at the graveside service, and I tucked it away as comfort. He was so right and I don’t want to forget it.
Melody E says
July 29, 2011 at 11:07 PMEmily, thank you for beautiful post – I look forward to sharing your words with my future patients and their families. It was so lovely to her your presentation at the She Speaks conference.
Rachel says
July 29, 2011 at 3:26 PMI’m sorry for your loss. May the Lord pour out his grace and strength upon your family during this time.
Prairie Mama says
July 29, 2011 at 3:36 PMBless you Emily, as you your husband and your family grieve the loss of your Father-In-Law. I am praying for your family and dear friends that have suffered the loss in this dying world, I will rejoice for you for his New Life in the “Land of the Living.” Blessings over you all, around you all and to you all.
Praying for your broken hearts!
ellen says
July 29, 2011 at 4:19 PMemily, i’m so sorry for your family’s loss. praying for comfort in this hard time as he is set free and healed in full.
Michelle DeRusha@Graceful says
July 29, 2011 at 7:40 PMI am so sorry for the loss of your dear father-in-law, Emily. My prayers are with you and your family. And I know you will see God in all of this — He is holding your hand and your heart.
Melissa says
July 29, 2011 at 7:57 PM{{hugs}} to your family.
Sissy says
July 29, 2011 at 8:17 PMI love that the photo looks like something from old Hollywood. It certainly captures their personalities. There is more to say and hugs to give, but I’ll do that in person. Love you.
kendal says
July 29, 2011 at 8:51 PMso so hard. this parents getting old and passing on….celebrate the life. love the family. embrace our prayers.
cat moore says
July 29, 2011 at 9:10 PM“passing from the land of dying to the land of living….” I love that. So true. Prayers for you right this moment for your family’s loss. Thanks for sharing your life with us.
amanda says
July 29, 2011 at 11:09 PMSo sorry to hear this …
Melissa May says
July 30, 2011 at 12:47 AMThinking of you Em… sorry for your loss and thankful that we don’t grieve as those without hope. But we grieve nonetheless. May God lead you and your husband and everyone through the mystery of the grieving.
Lynne says
July 30, 2011 at 3:44 AMMay you all feel God’s embrace at this time, especially your mother-in-law.
My dad passed away in January last year; he and mum had been married 53 years. My father-in-law passed away in April this year; they had been married 54 years. Both dads are now with your father-in-law and their Creator – in the land of the living.
Amy Hunt says
July 30, 2011 at 6:35 AMWe were made for more than this–what a perspective we all need to remember, daily.
May your family receive His peace in the joy of your father-in-law’s place of forever living…
Marleah says
July 30, 2011 at 6:55 AM{{{{hugs}}}} I wish I could be there in person to give you real hugs. May the Lord grant you all the strength you need to get through today and through the today’s to come as you and your family grieve this loss.
Lara says
July 30, 2011 at 8:21 AMPrayers for you and the family as you walk through this season. {hugs}
Bonita says
July 30, 2011 at 8:31 AMEmily, I woke up this morning thinking of you and how you would blog about this experience. As always, you did so with grace and beauty. So comforted by your words to those of us still in the land of the dying living our shadow lives.
Love your choice of picture too. They both seem so happy and full of life. A good reminder to us all to live that same way.
Richella at Imparting Grace says
July 30, 2011 at 10:10 AMHey girl–thank you for sharing that beautiful photo of a man very much alive. Funny to think that now he’s even more alive than he was in that picture, isn’t it?
I have to give a talk in September about spiritual formation and mortality. To put it bluntly, I’m scared. But I’m also excited to delve into my own thoughts about this and the thoughts of others. I’m going to bookmark this post and read it several times as food for thought. By the way, you are really, really good at whipping up food for thought. You’re a chef.
Jamie @ Six Bricks High says
July 30, 2011 at 10:34 AMInspired to live more fully after reading your beautiful words. So sorry for your loss, praying for you and your family.
Sarah says
July 30, 2011 at 2:00 PMLove to you all at this difficult time. Pour out your hearts to our loving God and let Him share the pain with you, as well as the hope of reunion one day.
Amy Sullivan says
July 30, 2011 at 2:07 PMEmily,
Beautiful picture and celebration of his life. I’m sorry for your family’s loss.
La Donna says
July 30, 2011 at 5:11 PMI’ve been thinking about you and your family this past week. I pray for you and your entire family during this moment and the days to come. What a wonderful picture to share with us of your FIL in what was probably one of the happiest days of his life, and reminding us that the little things that seem like nothings add up to be a whole lot of somethings one day.
Lisa says
July 30, 2011 at 10:17 PMFrom death to life — I will forever remember that. I have no words more eloquent than yours, but the Spirit knows what I mean to say. May He deliver what is in my heart to offer you some token of comfort. Praying for you all.
Claire says
July 30, 2011 at 10:32 PMI have thought about you all week.
Bekka says
July 30, 2011 at 11:04 PMMy condolences to your family – but glad that there is something to rejoice about in the midst of your grief.
love and blessings.
patty says
July 31, 2011 at 1:10 AMemily, sorry for your family’s loss. will be thinking of you and praying for you & your family.
xo
Keisha Brown says
July 31, 2011 at 9:26 AMEmily, praying for you in this time of grief.
What beautiful words you post here, “And in his passing from the land of the dying to the land of the living, we have seen the hand of God on his life. Now he knows fully, even as he is fully known.”
Yes. Amen.
tara says
July 31, 2011 at 9:33 AMpraying for all of you..the comfort and peace that only our creator can bring.
thankful that the Lord is always with us.
Amanda @ A Sweet Life Rocks says
August 1, 2011 at 12:14 AMWhat a gorgeous old photo. I am so sorry for the loss your family is feeling right now. I will keep you and yours in my prayers.
susan says
August 1, 2011 at 12:20 AMEmily,you&yours have been in my heart&prayers…as much as we celebrate life everlasting&the end of pain, we suffer the missing them, while we laugh at the God-given memories and thank Him for every moment. As prepared as we are sure we are, we are not. And I pray for all of you–his dear wife, the love of his life; The Man, and the parents who gave you such a wonderful gift in his growing up with God in his heart to meet God in yours; and the babies who were blessed to know Grampa and love him before he left to go on to a painfree joyful wait for the rest of you in your time. He will have even more to share, and you will all find him with you in the days, hours, and minutes to come. Hee will always be there with you and yet beyond you all, waiting to share. I hope Daddy was there to meet him, one newbie to another, to reach out in joy and without the pain they have both suffered. Daddy would be a good greeter. 🙂 I don’t know an earthbound soul who didnt love him, and what ateam they would make. Love&prayers to you all, and know that I understand how fresh the missing will be for a long time…susan
Laura says
August 1, 2011 at 11:03 AMI am so sorry for your family’s loss. I rejoice with you in the knowledge of his eternity, but mourn with you in the missing of Dad and Grandpa and all that that means in your family.
Stacey says
August 1, 2011 at 11:20 AMPraying for your whole family.
Kelly Sauer says
August 4, 2011 at 12:08 PMOh Emily – I had been praying… Now I’m crying. And here. You all are in our hearts.
Much love.