Saying Goodbye or See Ya Later?

Saying goodbye is not an easy thing. Recently I had to say goodbye to some one that I loved very much. It was rather sudden and unexpected. Standing next to his bed he lay there unresponsive. I thanked him for all his lessons and everything that he had done for me and many others. This life is merely passing phase. Often I see this life as training wheels for the big show if one gets into heaven. It really stinks loosing some especially if it is in a tragic way. It's easy to get angry and to have the to shake your fist at God, but know this, he loves you. God wants you to love, that's it. It's really that simple. God wants you to love him for he loves you, and God wants you to love everyone you meet and treat them in a loving way. Heaven is a place of pure perfect love and God wants those there who can respect, foster and grow in love. We are given a lifetime here on earth to learn how to love the way God wishes. Sometimes I wonder if God doesn't take those we love unexpectedly for two reasons. One, because the person dying has done enough God merely wants to give them a big hug and bring them home to heaven. Two, God hopes that through their sudden departure those left behind will turn to him for comfort so that he can build a stronger relationship with us and we with each other as we look to fill that void and vanquish the pain. I am sure there are those that would think that makes God insensitive or reckless. My children love candy and they get very upset with me when I don't let them eat candy, but I know how much healthier and happy they will be when they eat a balanced diet. This life is merely a passing phase. True life is eternally in heaven. That is the prize that we should keep our eyes on. Those with much on this earth have a hard time seeing God's way for wrapping ourselves up in the worlds distractions keeps us from loving the way God loves, and so many that are first here may come last in the life here after.

Mark 10:28-31
28Peter began to say to him, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you." 29Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31But many that are first will be last, and the last first."