The Death Watch…Waiting on the Home Going of Loved Ones

We were born

We will die

God is the Author and Finisher of our life

We know where we are going

Back home

To be with the Triune God

God the Father and Maker of our life

Jesus the Son Who died for us and took our place on the cross

The Holy Spirit Who lives inside of us giving us eternal life

We are going back home

To be with the Triune God

Resting in His bosom

Being at His Rest

For in all things God works for the good of those who love Him

Those who have been called according to His purpose

For those God foreknew He also predestined

to be conformed to the image of His Son

That He might be the Firstborn among many brothers and sisters

Jesus the Firstborn among all creation

Jesus the Firstborn among the resurrection from the dead

Jesus the Glorified

And those He predestined

He also called

Those He called

He also justified

And those He justified

He also glorified

Jesus the Glorified

Us who have been

Predestined

Called

Justified

And glorified

To be like Him

Jesus the Glorified

We also become glorified

When we reunite with Him

At home at last

The Eternal Home

Where there is no more

Suffering

Waiting

Pain

Sorrow

Regret

Tears

Fear

Doubt

Anxiety

We know Whom we have believed

And are confident that He will take us home

To be with Him

Meanwhile

We wait

We suffer

We experience the pain and sorrow of separation

We regret the times not well spent with our loved ones

Tears flow down our cheeks

We might even fear and doubt

We might feel anxious not knowing how the final hours will be like

We might be fearful of physical pain and suffering

We might have unfinished business here on earth

We might not feel ready to leave this earth

We might even doubt that we are going to be with Christ

Those of us who are keeping watch with the departing

We suffer seeing our loved one suffering

We feel powerless

We bargain with God for

Healing

Mercy to shorten the suffering

Grace to take away the suffering

Reprieve

Peace

We regret not having

Done more

Said more

Showed love more

Reconciled sooner

Forgiven quicker

Spent more time with the departing

We regret having

Said hurtful things

Caused pain

Held on to grudges

We feel powerless to

Take away the illness

Take away the pain

Shorten the suffering

Control the last breath

Stop the dying process

We wait

We watch

We are present

Being in the moment

We love

We pray

We reminisce

We reconcile

We cherish

And we wait some more

We watch

We stay present

Even as we surrender our powerlessness

To the Author and Finisher of our

Faith

Calling

Life

We look forward to our loved one

Being embraced by our Maker

Being welcomed home by Jesus the Firstborn from among the dead

Hearing whispers of love by the Holy Spirit

We look forward to reuniting with our loved one

Welcoming us home

Ushering us into the

Presence of our Maker

Embrace of our Savior

Joy and peace of the Holy Spirit

For eternity