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Listen while you read: "Look Ye Saints"1 (Lyrics) |
A bouquet of red roses has a heartfelt meaning for me. My husband Lynn gave me a bouquet of red roses on our wedding day. Tucked in among the flowers was his note reassuring me of his deep love on this most important of days. Now, eight years after his death, I often take a bouquet of red roses to place on his grave. Portions of Psalm 23 are inscribed on his gravestone. How fitting it is to have a personal expression of faith to serve as a message of hope to others.
The cemetery that Lynn and I chose for our burial is one of our city's pioneer cemeteries. Though these small cemeteries are still in use today, they also have many graves dating back to Oregon's pioneer days in the mid-1800s. When I visit this cemetery, I often walk around, reading inscriptions on these old tombstones. One set of tombstones always brings tears to my eyes. Side by side, three small gravestones mark the resting places of three children from the same family, ranging from ages 9 to 14, who all died within two weeks, probably from typhoid or diphtheria. Imagine the grief of the parents as they helplessly watched their children slip away one by one!
Looking more closely at the gravestones, I saw that in addition to each child's name and date of birth and death, the parents had inscribed that child's final words. One said, "I love everyone. I love Jesus." Another said, "I will be in heaven soon." These words of hope and love must have brought a measure of comfort to their grieving parents. In turn, these words have spanned the decades and serve as a perpetual testimonial of a pioneer family's faith.
These "last words" made me realize that a visit to a cemetery need not be all doom and gloom. The hope that we have is that because Jesus Himself died on our behalf but was raised victoriously from the dead, those who died believing in Him will also be raised, and we will see them all again, including Lynn and those three children — and Jesus Himself! Words of hope in the resurrection ring throughout the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 15.
1 Corinthians 15:23b – Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. (NLT)
We know that death has already been conquered and that we and our loved ones have eternal life when we place our faith in Jesus' substitutionary death. Rejoice!
1 Corinthians 15:54-55 – Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (NLT)
Prayer: Thank You, loving heavenly Father, for providing a way out from the fear of death. Thank You for the hope of eternal life that will never fade. Amen.
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A beautiful promise of hope Gail. Blessings.
Beautiful words of faith and hope. Thanks Gail.
This was a very beautiful devotional Gail. Thank you!
Thanks for the beautiful story and encouraging words, Gail.
Thank you for this devotional. Your words are comforting today.
Thank you, Gail, your devotional was beautiful.
God bless you.
Final moments with my parents, my husband gave me the opportunity to say thank you and a prayer for peace and hope.
Merci, Gail, for this assuring devotional containing several verbal pictures — a spousal gift, a child’s hope, history lessons.
Very beautiful, Gail. Thank you for sharing these hopeful words with us. We also have the glorious promise of Heaven in which I see my Savior face to face.
Thank you for your very heart touching words today and the reassurance that we will receive eternal life through our faith in Christ. Blessings for this very positive message.
Indeed. The hope of eternal life is a great comfort – along with the present joy of being in relationship with our Lord every day. Thank you for the lovely picture of the children’s tombstone records of the children’s faith. God bless.
Dear Gail,
Thank you so much for your beautiful, inspiring devotional. My husband died suddenly in a few months ago, and I find your words very encouraging.
Blessings, Joy, Gratitude,
(Ontario, Canada)
Thank you for sharing this heartfelt devotional with us. Near my home we also have a Pioneer cemetery with similar but barely readable inscriptions. These all died within a short period of time from a plague of cholera. It’s a reminder to be grateful for modern medicine as well as our families. Blessings.
Good morning, Gail,
Definitely we all need words of faith and hope in our lives. It is wonderful that you have a special memory to reinforce as you visit Lynn’s grave. I also walk in cemeteries and read inscriptions and wonder about the people. It is a place of peace for me and not gloom. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings and your hope of eternal life. Blessings.
Thank you for your Devotion today.
My husband also passed away 8 years ago, and I place flowers on his grave throughout the year.
The last words he said, as our Minister was praying at his bedside, were:
“Yea though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil.”
Your devotional touched me. Thank you and may the Lord bless you.
(Ontario, Canada)
Good morning, Gail,
What a good devotional this morning. I go to our local cemetery several times in the summertime, my mother and dad are buried there, as is one of my sisters and her husband, and last but not least our little baby girl. I always think back of those days of so long ago. My mother’s favorite Psalm was Psalm 42 and that is on their tombstone “Psalm 42” not the words, it is our hope that whoever sees it will look up that Psalm.
Thank you for writing and may His blessing be upon you.
Thank you, Gail, for this hope-filled devotional.
Gail, an inspiring message pointing to the greatest news in the world! Well done!
Gail,
What a beautiful message! Thank you for sharing your personal story and the hope that we share in the faith that we hold.
May you be richly blessed.