I have gone from the joy of seeing all of my children and grandchildren in the last few weeks to grieving with my cousin and her family who lost their 17 year old daughter and sister in a drowning accident.  It is so hard to comprehend how a beautiful, vibrant, vivacious girl could be filling her world with joy and exuberance in one minute and be gone into eternity just a few minutes later. I can't even imagine how I would be feeling in a similar situation.  The only comfort at all resides in our belief that a loving, almighty, sovereign God is in control of all all things in this life and has a plan for even the most difficult circumstances that can occur.  I have been amazed at God's gracious work in the lives of Anna's family who have had to deal with her loss, the recovery of her body, finding a funeral home, buying a casket and deciding on a cemetery plot all in the space of a few short days.

The "Celebration of Life" that was held in memorial of Anna was attended by over 800 people.  At it, my cousin was able to stand up before all the people there and give glory and honor to her savior, Jesus Christ.  All of Anna's siblings (seven of them) were able to do the same thing, as was Anna's father.  The terrible grief was not hidden but it was evident that the grace of God, a loving heavenly father, was surrounding and undergirding the whole family.  Jesus came to this earth to overcome our enemy, death.  By his perfect life, death and ressurection, he accomplished that feat and everyone of us who acknowledges that death in our place has the hope of eternal life after this life ends.  It was evident that when the grace of God is desparately needed that it is given beyond measure.

Anna was buried this morning.  It was a service for immediate family only.  I can't imagine what it must be like to have to drive away and leave my 17 year old daughter's body beside a grave that I know she'll be lowered into or what her brothers and sisters will feel as they drive away from the gravesite.  They will probably look out the window of the car until the site cannot be seen any longer in the distance and ache with unbelievable sadness.  "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord".

All of you who know the surety of Christ's salvation, please hold this family before God's throne of grace anytime this story comes to your mind.

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