It’s Never Good-Bye

The day my son Christopher went to Heaven was the hardest day of my life, needless to say. Now birthdays are difficult. Christmas is difficult. Easter is difficult. It’s amazing how every occasion is loaded with memories we didn’t know we had.

That day I joined a club I never wanted to join: the club of those who have lost loved ones and, specifically, those who have lost children.

People pour their hearts out whenever I talk about this. They tell me their stories, and I have been in tears as I’ve heard from other parents who have lost children and have told me how Cathe and I have inspired them. I thank God for that. Despite this pain and tragedy, if we can bring a little hope or a little comfort to someone else, then I am thankful God has allowed us to have some joy despite this tragedy.

If it were up to me, I would have my son back in a heartbeat. But I am not given that opportunity, of course. So I simply say, "Lord, I don’t want to waste my pain. How can I use it for Your glory?" There are a lot of hurting people out there. I know what they’re going through.

I have found that talking about Heaven is helpful to me. It causes me to focus and think about where my son is right now.

Maybe you have a loved one who is in Heaven—maybe a child, maybe a sibling, maybe a parent or grandparent, or maybe a spouse. If he or she trusted the Lord, then you have hope. And that hope is in Heaven.

It is not good-bye forever; it is see you later. We will see our loved ones again because, as Christians, we never say good-bye.