I come to you today with a heavy heart. The mother of a dear friend passed last week. I had talked to him the day before and he knew the time was near. She had lived a great life but had been in bad health and had lost her husband just a year ago. She will be missed by family, friends and a community that she had been a part of for over ninety years.

I learned of her passing via a text from my friend. The next day I checked up on him and his first response was "mama is enjoying her first day in heaven". Such celebratory words. No cries for pity. His reaction was founded upon his deep faith in Jesus and his belief that she is now healed, with his dad, his brother and most importantly with Jesus in a place of peace and joy. No longer hostage to all the sick things going on in this world today.

Let me be clear. My sadness today is not for my friend. He will do what he needs to do and move on with his life. He will forever celebrate the life of his mother during her time in this world, but above all smile when thinking about her walking the streets of gold. My sadness is for all the folks today who do not know Jesus. My sadness is for those who lost loved ones and can’t embrace the comfort that comes with the assurance of God that they are in a better place.

I can only guide those folks to 1 Corinthians 2:9: "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor any heart of man imagined what God has prepared for those who believe". All it takes is faith, even faith as small as a mustard seed. I close with a quote from Richard Sibbes: "Oh, the sweet life of a believer that has made their peace with God. For they are fit for all conditions in life and death". In that, I join my friend in celebrating the life of his mom.