Happy Birthday Rachael!

This week was Rachel's birthday.  I really enjoyed thinking about her and I tried to spread the enjoyment to the whole week and not just March 2nd, the day of her birth.  Rachael was our firstborn and would be twenty six years old this week.  She died shortly before she was born as the result of a serious kidney disorder.  We learned earlier in her pregnancy that she would not live long past her birth.  I can now look back at her short life with pleasure and peace.  At the time she was born it seemed like I would never see the situation through the eyes of anything but pain.  Each day that has passed I have treasured the words of scripture that hold so true.  I can't wait to see her and have time with her again.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18 (New International Version 1984)

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have not hope.  We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage each other with these words.

What joy to look back on her life and into the future, "through the eyes of Jesus".

Be encouraged,

Barbara