Yesterday I had the privilege of speaking at Evangelism University on the topic of “What Helps When I struggle with Grief.”
Honestly. It was hard. Real hard.
You see, It has been 14 years today since I held my Dad’s hand and hugged his neck.
14 years since I heard him say “Slide Tide!” When Alabama would lose a football game.
The people in this picture have been gone a long time, with the exception of the that little girl who is now a grown woman with a child of her own. And that young man whose hair is nowhere near that color now.
While my earthly family has diminished in number, the greatest gift I have is my church family and they are numerous throughout this world.. (that’s right, the WORLD!)
Thank you Lord for my family!
If you are reading this, you are one of them!
Other than the greatest comfort coming from God, YOU are the comfort I rely on…
To make it
when I hurt
when I cry
when I need a hand
when I need someone to be by my side.
I miss my Dad… a lot, but just like others who have this same hurt…I have comfort.
When at the event we sang, “Hymn of Heaven”
I was thinking of Dad… I’ll admit…I cried.
why?
Because of these words:
How I long to breathe the air of Heaven
Where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets
To look upon the One who bled to save me
And walk with Him for all eternity
There will be a day when all will bow before Him
There will be a day when death will be no more
Standing face to face with He who died and rose again
Holy, holy is the Lord
And every prayer we prayed in desperation
The songs of faith we sang through doubt and fear
In the end, we’ll see that it was worth it
When He returns to wipe away our tears
Oh, there will be a day when all will bow before Him
There will be a day when death will be no more
Standing face to face with He who died and rose again
Holy, holy is the Lord
And on that day, we join the resurrection
And stand beside the heroes of the faith
With one voice, a thousand generations
Sing, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain”
“Forever He shall reign”
So let it be today we shout the hymn of Heaven
With angels and the saints, we raise a mighty roar
Glory to our God who gave us life beyond the grave
Holy, holy is the Lord
Songwriters: Brian Johnson / Phil Wickham / Bill Johnson / Chris Davenport
I miss you Dad,
Longing for that day, but until then..
One more day for one more soul!
Jerry Elder 