Jean, A Witness to Hope

A Letter to God as I sit in Room 116

Dear God,
As I sit here this early morning in Room 116, I sit beside the now still body of Jean.  The grieving family and their pastor have held each other with prayers and tears and have now left. Their grief is great.

I sit in the early morning silence and contemplate death.  Jean's death was so quiet.  No trumpets.  No fanfare.  No indications that this would be the last morning.  Her death was so quiet.  

Life, on the other hand, was so noisy!  Jean's life was busy and full.  Her last months were complicated but always each day was lived, each day was completed.  Now, this day, this day will begin without Jean.  Today she begins her new life, a life of freedom, a life of wellness, a life prepared through yet another death, that of our Lord Jesus the Christ Who rose from death to conquer it once and for all.

Death is conquered.  That is our hope as believers.  And hope is a mighty force.  God knew that a world that included sin could not be fair.  And as sin abounds in this world, so do accidents, tragedies, illness, poverty, violence and general chaos.  What could God do short of starting over?  What could God do this side of eternity?

God could send His Son.  God could send Jesus into the world to not only experience the pain and injustice but also to conquer that which is wrong and to have victory.  And victory brings more than success - victory brings hope!  Hope for all people.  

Hope is strength.  Hope is encouragement.  Hope is tomorrow!  Hope is incentive to try.  Hope is reason to believe.  With hope we can trust.

Jean was a woman of Hope.  If she were not, long ago Jean would have given up.  But Jean did not give up.  Jean saw hope in each day, in each hour of each day.  Jean saw hope in her family.  Jean saw hope in love.  Jean saw hope in those who cared for her every day.  Jean saw hope in hymns and prayers.  Jean saw hope in life.  And now, Jean is living completely in the Hope that only Jesus can give.   

Psalm 61 could be Jean's Psalm: "Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.  From the ends of the earth I call to you.  I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.  For You have been my Refuge, a Strong Tower against the foe.  I long to dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.  For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your Name."

Dwell in the Tent of the Lord, Jean.  Take refuge under the shelter of His wings.  Go to the Rock that will be solid ground.  Receive the heritage of Eternal Life with the God of your Hope, the God in whom you trust.

And, Dear God, thank You for sending Jean to us.  Thank You for allowing this woman of Hope to touch the lives of the staff and residents.  We have been blessed.

The early morning light is beginning to fill Room 116 now.  Help us to hope and trust in You, Lord.  Like Jean, help us to hope and trust in You, now and forever more,  Amen.