Joy And Grieving.

May 28th was planned for a happy celebration. A welcome shower for our latest grand baby, who joined our family with much fanfare on March 5th. It was an excited group of family and friends who came for breakfast that morning, and showered Stephanie with beautiful gifts for baby Henry.

 

 

 

 

So much happiness all around.

 

None of us could have imagined the astounding news that would come in the afternoon. Another son, welcomed into this world 25 years before, had suddenly passed away. Taken his own life.

 

No words can describe the numbness and shock that followed. And the flip-flop of emotions... a shift from the joy of celebrating a son born safely into the world, to the sadness and grief of one tragically departing from it. Tears. Unbelief. Sorrow. And oh, so many questions.

 

 

And while perhaps all the whys and hows about Dwayne's short life will never be answered, there is one memory in the life of this young man that gives us comfort. Several years ago, while burdened about his sin before God, he accepted the truth of John 5:24... "he who believes on the Son (of God) has everlasting life." This photo above, shows the happiness in the transformation that took place for Dwayne that night. He realised that the Lord Jesus had died for him. He accepted the free gift of eternal life. Nothing in this world compares to the joy of salvation.

 

But what happened... to turn Dwayne from the joy of his salvation to the emptiness of this world? What happened... to make him doubt that the One Who is able to save is able also to keep? What happened... to convince him that his life was no longer worth living?

What happened... that he chose such a violent end?

We don't know.

 

But we do know that the Lord  has promised His faithfulness to those who continually trust in Him. So we must trust Him. Daily, and only. And resist the devil, who constantly tries, with his ruses and trickery, to distract and derail us in our lives for God. Don't let him.

 

Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering,

for He Who promised is reliable, and trustworthy, and faithful.

Hebrews 10:23