Dear Southmoore Family and Friends,
I want to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. I know with all that is going on in our world and in our lives, it sometimes makes it difficult to see the blessing that God has given us.
The Lord told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to pray blessing over the Israelites:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:22-26)
When you gather this week, I want to encourage you to pray this blessing over your family. Choose someone to read this blessing and see how God uses it to make a huge difference in your gathering.
This blessing is a reminder that each and every one of us matter to God. He has come, though His son Jesus, to bless us, keep us, shine his face upon us, be gracious to us, turn his face toward us, and give us peace. That’s how much God loves us.
Thanksgiving is a special time to simply say, “Thank You” to the Lord for all that he has done for us. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.
Many of you know that the Lord called our son, Woody, home to be with Him, November 24, 2017, the day after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving now is not only a reminder of God’s goodness and blessings, but also a reminder that Woody is not here with us.
Our family is grateful for a church family and friends that pray for us during this time. Your prayers have made a difference and has helped us through this journey.
The last few days have been extremely difficult for me. The grief has hit me hard. I so miss my son. I know I am not alone. I have not only been thinking about myself, but also thinking of others who are going through the same thing. I know several who now live with a broken heart. Your pain is real. Your tears are real. Your broken heart is real.
As Judy has said before, “In my mind – this is what I have been thinking.”
The last few days I too have been thinking. To help me cope with my grief, I thought I would write a letter to Woody.
Please, please, don’t think I am sharing this letter to bring attention to myself. I am sharing this letter to be a blessing and bring help to the many who are entering the holidays with a broken heart.
Dear Woody,
Four years ago, you left us. We didn’t get to say, “Goodbye.” You were with us Thanksgiving Day, and the next day, you were in the presence of God. Your faith turned to sight. We didn’t want you to go. I know it is selfish to want you to come back. We don’t have you, but we do have our memories. That is one thing that death cannot take away from us.
I remember the lyrics of a song that reads: “If you can see me now, you would not wish me back.” The Bible tells us that heaven is a beautiful place – a place that cannot be described with mere words. But what makes heaven heaven is not what is there, but Who is there! You have seen for yourself that the only scars in heaven are on the “One” who holds you close.
We can’t bring you back, but one day, we will come and join you. Knowing that we will see you again helps us down the road of life. Thanksgiving is not the same anymore. Life is not the same anymore. I know you would want us to keep living life to the fullest. And with God’s help, we will until we see you again.
We love and miss you,
Mom and Dad