Revelation 21:4 NKJV
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
A few days ago, a close friend of mine lost his grandpa and his passing has been particularly difficult since it happened so suddenly. I also lost my grandpa back in December and it hurts realizing that he never saw me in-person, all grown-up. To help my friend, I decided to write an open letter to him and offer my condolences.
Dearest friend,
If you’re reading this just know that those who have accepted Jesus into their hearts will go to heaven, and receive a new life and new body as promised by God in Revelation. If you were to see your grandpa in his renewed life, he might appear as a young man in the flower of his youth; robust and full of vigor free from the shackles of his old body, which was a part of the fallen realm, our world.
You’re going to feel pain more acutely now and his passing might cause you to reprioritize your values and the things that are truly important. I’ve realized that small everyday moments with my parents have become more valuable now and I spend more time with them. I’ve also accepted sacrificing a few days of work and choosing instead to spend all day with my parents.
I try not to cry about the loss of my grandpa mainly for my grandma’s sake. Although she is in Beijing and won’t see my tears I still try to be strong for her, in case I visit her I’ll be prepared and have control over my emotions.
When I called my grandma after I found out about my grandpa’s passing, she said, “Please don’t cry or I’ll cry even more, a good child shouldn’t cry.” This was her way of saying, “I don’t want you to suffer and feel this type of pain.”
Likewise, stay strong for your grandma and mom because they will need your love more than ever now.
If your grandpa believed in Jesus, take comfort in knowing that he will be there waiting for you. I hope you don’t mind me saying this, I know you struggle with your faith but once you are baptized, both physically and spiritually, you will no longer fear permanently dying.
A baptism is more than just a pastor dunking you underwater; the spiritual side of it occurs when you feel Jesus’ presence washing your sins away and that might come after you’re physically baptized.
My heart reaches out to you and this loss is a mutual feeling and I will pray for your family. Mourning alone makes life more difficult so don’t be shy in reaching out to family and close friends. Your grandpa would want you to continue living as normal and celebrate his life by cherishing all the memories you’ve made together.
Love is truly a powerful thing and you’ll realize how much stronger you’ll be after the initial stages of mourning end, especially with family and friends supporting each other.
Honor your grandpa and spend time with family.
Your loving friend,
Lena