Healing in Sorrow
It is with deep anguish of my heart that I update this blog. My God-loving , affectionate, faithful and handsome husband of 21 years went home to be with Jesus on March 31, 2018.
He went peacefully at home like we wanted. After singing and crying and reading God's word out loud to our kids I looked down at Matt as he took his last breath here on this earth and entered into the presence of the Lord. (2 Cor. 5:6-8) God has been gracious to us even in this leg of the journey. Although we are are in deep, deep sorrow over this tremendous loss of a wonderful man, we are confident of his healing.
Healing? Yes. Healing. He would want me to shout it from the mountaintops that Jesus has healed him! Jesus started a work in his heart at the USAFA when He offered him salvation. And as Matt has previously stated in this blog, " All of His promises are “Yes” in Christ – when He gave me Christ, He gave me everything: including the promise of an eternal healing far beyond the grasp of this world’s diseases".
Although Easter will never be the same for our family in so many ways I am reminded today that we who are still here have hope of healing too! Our healing goes beyond this world and its problems. I was reading from one of Matt's favorite passages to the kids yesterday as we were gathered around Matt. 2 Corinthians 5:15, 17 and 21 "And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
So, today, as I reflect on the life of my husband ending here on earth and I feel indescribable sorrow- there is also hope. Matt has been healed. I have been healed. Jesus offers this healing to all who will believe today! Today is the day we celebrate Christ's resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:55, "Where O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Cancer did not win, we have not lost a battle. Victory is ours because of/in Christ.
Isaiah 53:5 "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."
A friend told me last night, "It's just like Matt to be born on Christmas and to die on Easter" as she reminded me that Matt was just trying to be more Christlike :) I had to chuckle a little because this idea of being like Christ was what Matt was about. He prayed it for himself and for our kids and for me. We would appreciate your prayers as we continue in the sorrow and healing.