Heaven's Treasures

Warren and me

The rest of our boys on a family walk yesterday

In honor of Warren being in heaven— healed and whole with his Savior, 6 years as of last night – we wanted to share some verses and quotes that have encouraged us.  It is amazing how God brings Scripture and people across our paths to lift us up and make His truth and hope clear, even in the darkest moments and when leaning into (sometimes embracing, sometimes fighting) life’s “new normal.”

"And now, God, do it again— bring rains to our drought-stricken lives so those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, so those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing."

Psalm 126:4-6

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“There are times in our lives when the pressure seems too great. It certainly seemed to us that God has ‘crossed the line’ when we were left to bear the agony of our young son’s death… I felt forsaken by God.  Years later, I’m now able to say that the same God who had seemingly gone too far is still in the process of gently redeeming the pain of that loss. We still miss our son and always will. There is no such thing as closure. One learns to adjust to redefine what it means to be normal. Yet, we can say our God is sovereign and we can trust Him with our lives and especially the lives of our children”  (Chuck Betters, Teaching Them Young, p. 167).

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"We have been blessed to suffer at a young age because it informs the way we live the rest of our lives." 

-Katherine and Jay Wolf

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“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” 

Isaiah 45:3

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"Death hurts because we were made for life. 'I have set before you life and death,' we read in Deuteronomy 30:19. 'Choose life.' Some would say that 'choosing life' means choosing only to see the positive, looking always for the silver lining. To walk this path is to live in perpetual denial. Following Jesus means choosing to see the truth even when it is painful. Death hurts.  Loss causes deep ache. And, somehow in the agony of pain, we are free to find joy because we can trust that Jesus redeems all things.  Where death reminds us that we are made of dust, inconsequential in the course of history, Jesus reminds us that in him we are loved and have life forever.  This is a reason to sing even on dark days.”

-Emilie Hayner Wagner (daughter of Steve Hayner who recently passed away)

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you.” 

1 Peter 1:3-4

Photo by Hannah Byrd