Losing a Loved One and Letting Go

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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When I was in pre-hospital emergency medicine, I wasn’t bothered much by the death that I saw (although youngins got to me).  The toughest thing that I saw, from an intellectual perspective, was people letting go of a loved one who was moving on to eternity. 

There comes a point when, despite numerous prayers for healing and the efforts of doctors, and modern medicine, it becomes clear that a loved one will not recover. The idea that he or she will not be around much longer is hard to swallow. 

The reality is, though, that God has appointed a time for every man.  In the case of Christians and little ones, I am so comforted by this passage:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

—John 14:1-3

I believe that if and when I’m confronted with that decision—to let go—that I’ll be utterly destroyed inside with grief for some time. But at the same time, I will realize,

PS—The featured photo by Sarah Lefor Art and Illustration. She does amazing portraits, and the best present you can get anyone is a portrait of their dog. (I paid her to make one of my sister’s chug!)

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