I simply can't help shaking my head in disbelief many times a day.Am I dreaming? Did this really happen?Banke gone? Why?.....Why do the brightest stars in the horizon get cut down at the prime of thier blaze?Why does the sunshine stop at high noon for some of the most wonderful people I have ever met and loved? When several years back my heart and soul friend and sister went to glory in the prime of her life ,just as she was beginning a wonderful life I thought ...nothing could ever be as heart wrenching and gut tugging as that.Nothing could ever scar my heart like that...Now another dearly beloved who along with her wonderful husband has shared some of the closest ,most rewarding,soothing yet vibrant moments with my husband and I has been taken yet again.So suddenly ,so painfully...my heart has erupted in another bleeding painful wound.In the midst of it..I know our God is sovereign ,loving and kind and He heals. Yet,in the throes of such pain...I clearly see the message.....They are home and we are not ....for this is NOT our home.....we are just sojourners...immigrants in a foreign terrain.Nothing can be of value here if it doesn't count for eternity...eternity in the home Christ prepared for us...our heavenly dwelling where joy and peace resound forever..where there is no crying,no sorrowing ,no pain.Where we will be clothed in righteousness and surrounded with beauty and light. That's where she is..that's where they've gone.....What a consoling thought. When we weep,we weep for ourselves and I pray that our tears will water up many seeds of righteousness sown in our hearts through the life of our dearly cherished,through the washing of the word and through our deep and unfathomable encounters with God the Holy Spirit. The Bible say in Ps 126:6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. I pray that as we weep and sorrow we would not do so as those without hope as 1 Cor 4:13-14 says But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. Let us remember that our bridegroom is coming to take us home with Him and truly it would be soon.So till then...rest peacefully dearly loved ..lay at peace in the loving presence of our savior and Lord .And for us that wait..may the cry of our hearts be Maranatha!! Even So, Come Lord Jesus.... Wande