Anniversaries are days to remember. Generally, they are about celebrating how long people have been together. There is one anniversary for me that is very special, but it is not about a relationship, it is about a death. The death of my mother. It's been two years since she found eternal rest in Christ.
It was a day that my faith was put to the test. As my campus pastor told me, "the death of a parent is when most people's faith is questioned. They will choose to either run from God or run to Him." I understand why people would run away from Him; they question God's judgment. Why would this God who loves me so much take the person whom I love the most from me? My dear friends, He did this for a reason. He would not do this to you if He knew you could not handle it. It is something I had to learn the hard way.
The first few days following my mother's death I thought my heart was literally breaking. It was a feeling that I never wish to experience again. But I made it. My trust in God helped me through. My trust in His promise that I would see my mother again was what helped keep me going.
As it says in Revelations 21:3-8:
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.'”
This is the passage that I have read as well as heard so many times since my mom's passing. It is what gets me through the tough days. It is a reminder from God that is there and there is a reason to all He is doing. Therefore, trust in Him, during these sad anniversaries, do not run from Him. He loves you and He only wants what is best for you because you are His.
