After we told the boys of the disease that would soon take their Daddy’s life, Luke, my oldest son, asked Scott, “Are you sure this is what you have, Daddy?” Scott replied of what he was absolutely sure of. “Luke,” he said, “ I am certain, I am in the hollow of God’s hand.”
Since Scott had already started a “bucket list” of things to do before “the end,” the boys started to make their own bucket lists of what they wanted to do with their Daddy. (A trip to Disney, Space Camp, the Grand Canyon…) We had quite a long list. Unfortunately we ran out of time before we could do any of it, but it was good to have hope in that very hard season. After his passing, the boys and I talked a lot about Heaven. Randy Alcorn’s book called Heaven greatly encouraged me. He had a version for kids that we read together. It started us on conversations of what Heaven might be like and how we’d all be together again one day.
Of course we don’t know exactly what Heaven will be like, but it got us thinking about possibilities. Luke was excited to maybe one day do some “space travel” with his Dad. Pierce wanted a 5-story tree house with lots of bullfrogs (which he was obsessed with at the time.) Nathan wanted a cat farm, and one the size of a pony he could ride. He also wanted a pond of fish for all his cats. (How very thoughtful!) It brought about a certain type of excitement for them. Maybe it was a little over the top at times, but hey, we don’t quite know what Heaven has in store for us–we just know it’s gonna be good!
A few months after Scott’s passing, I was thinking of the amazing gift of salvation that we have in Christ. Redeemed! Forgiven! Forever with Him! I was suddenly overwhelmed with thankfulness for this unbelievable gift we’ve been given.
I’ve Been Redeemed
Lost and broken on a road to nowhere,
You saw my eyes that could not see
A foolish wanderer, grasping at air
My soul in dark agony
A cry for mercy–a prayer for relief
“Is there a Savior who saves?”
Then Love reaches down before I can speak,
Leaving my soul amazed. What more can my heart say?
I’ve been redeemed, I’ve been found.
Mercy’s Hand–reaching down
Into the fire–into the grave,
Hallelujah–JESUS SAVES!
And not for only earth’s small vapor of time
But for all eternity,
My heart will ever sing this song of praise
Of what my God has done for me!! I’ve been redeemed….
By grace I’ve been carried, by grace I stand
With hope I am waiting in the hollow of God’s hand….