Don't talk about it

     
                     All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.
                                                                                                                     Ecclesiastes 3:20

                           I have to be honest.  I hate talking about death.  I hate reading about it and listening to things about it.  If you are the same please don't stop reading.  Bear with me.  This could help you accept it with peace.

                           Whenever I heard of death I would brush it out of my mind not willing or wanting to think about it.  I grew arrogant about death.  For some reason I thought I wouldn't have to face death if I didn't face the reality of it. 

                                          ...A time to be born and a time to die,...
                                                                                                Ecclesiastes 3:2

                       The thought of leaving this earth freaked me out because I couldn't imagine leaving all my things (sad but true. I'm so embarrassed to admit), I couldn't imagine leaving my family (or them leaving me), and last; I hate to think of the world going on without me.  Like I never existed.  It's so strange how death is the most natural thing in the world and yet, the most unnatural.

                      What really got my attention was on July 29th of this year my sister's cat Lacy passed away suddenly.  It hit all of us like a ton of bricks.  Her health went downhill literally in a matter of 14 hours.  Then on Aug 9th we had to put our elderly 19-year-old cat down.  When I could have been overwhelmed by all this death I felt a clarity.

                                      ...A time to mourn and a time to dance,...  
                                                                                             Ecclesiastes 3:4

                     I began a journey with God to face death and look to Heaven.  What helped me a lot was reading Francis Chan's Crazy Love.  That book was crazy good!!  He is so thoughtful  and aware of God and the spiritual.  He knows how to be blunt and gentle.  There was one chapter where he was talking about death.  That was the first time I didn't run.  I stood my ground, held God's  hand (until my spiritual knuckles were white) and kept myself from screaming with terror. It took lots of hyperventilating, tears and despair.  Then God came in.

                                       For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
                                                                                        John 3:16

                    God reminded me that this body will die but my soul is going to live!  I'm going to still be alive but even better.  I'm going to be able to see God and be able to hug him and talk to him and more!! I have so much good to look forward to.  Now, death isn't so scary.  It still kind of creeps me out but; there is hope. I can dance and sing knowing that Jesus has defeated death for me and you! We no longer need to be afraid of it. We have hope.