George’s untimely death took place during a season of grief
over several other deeply distressing situations and deaths that converged into
our lives recently. It’s been a difficult year and there were days when the
weight of disappointment and heartbreak was beyond overwhelming. When
wave after wave of grief washes over us with no shore in sight, what we know,
what we say we know about God from
the places of safety and comfort is tested. Often, the first thing to go is a sense, the
feeling of God’s tender love and attentive presence because our operating life
paradigm generally doesn’t allow for co-existence of love and suffering,
coexistence of good, omnipotent, active God and real, tangible evil in the
world. The Piggy’s death was somewhat of the last straw, the last drop in the
already overflowing cup of gall.
As we knelt together, my daughter holding the Piggy’s limp
body while I wrapped it in a linen cloth to get it ready for burial, we were
all overcome. Tears flowed freely,
silence interrupted only by our sobs. It was more than the loss of piggy that
we were mourning. It was more than our
furry friend that we were burying.
Despite the gorgeous fall day, comfort seemed elusive. Then
these words of Jesus came to my mind…
and slowly seeped down into my heart,
Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of
them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your
head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows…
you are more valuable than many sparrows… you are more valuable than many…
piggies?!! Matthew 10:29-31
God takes note when a little bird falls to the ground and
dies. God took note when our guinea pig fell to the ground and died. If He takes note, is attentive of
small creatures like birds and rodents, wouldn’t He all the more take note of
the greater sufferings of His own children who cry to Him day and night?
Nothing that happens in my life and yours is there by random cosmic
coincidence. No death.
No disappointment. No heartbreak.
It is all filtered through the sovereign love of our heavenly Father. His voice to us is always…
You are more valuable…
you are much more valuable…than many sparrows… more valuable than many piggies. Do not fear.
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