Saying "See you later"....

Oh.  Daisy Love.  It is so hard to say good-bye.  We know that it is God's kindness for you to no longer suffer and be in pain...for you to know the fullness of joy that is only truly complete and face to face in the presence of Christ.

But it is still hard.

In many ways, you were our family's first true and deep interaction with grief.  Emma and Caleb (and the little ones) had not known grief, or tasted death up close before you.  I will never, ever be able to express what a beautiful introduction it was.  I know that sounds twisted, or weird.  But truly, I don't think I have ever seen death approached with the same grace, courage, and bravery as you did.  And that is what will mark my children.  They will see that for the one who is in Christ...it is not the same terrifying, dark thing that the world knows.  It is a different thing altogether.  It is passing from the arms of one papa Daddy (and Momma) who loved you so deeply, so rightly, so well...into the arms of one who loves you even more.

How kind... that in the face of Emma's tears, and her saying, "I wish I could have played with Daisy one more time," that I could respond with such confidence and truth, "OH, but you will!!  And when you do, it will be ever so much more fun and free than it ever was!"

Your courage, and your perseverance through pain and suffering marked so many families, including mine.  But your ability to to pass from this life into the next, the way that the Holy Spirit enabled your whole family to give witness and testimony to the Goodness of our God in the face of the greatest pain they have known, the way you have opened all of our eyes to remember that this world truly is not our home.... for these things, and so many more, I am forever grateful.  It is a privilege and an honor to grieve, not as the world grieves, but to grieve nonetheless, for one who is now a part of that great cloud of witnesses...reminding us all to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and to run with perseverance the race marked out for us....fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

We love you Daisy.  Thank you for reminding us that for those who are in Christ, it is not good-bye, but "see you later."