My maternal grandfather’s name was Mortimer Charles Cousens. I always thought that was a regal name. He went by Charles. Growing up, a girl on his block couldn’t say Charles. She called him “Chil,” and the nickname stuck. He was a brilliant and fun-loving man. Chil died 50 years ago today, July 20, 1971, when I was five years old. I have only one vague memory of him. He was taking a picture of my two younger brothers and me outside his house on Etna Street in Brooklyn. The three of us were holding hands and swinging our arms. He asked us to be still or the picture would come out blurry. 

My grandparents had five daughters. Three have died, but my mother and her sister Terry are alive and well. No doubt they have bittersweet feelings today. Sweet nostalgic memories of a father who died before they were 30 but still mourning his loss and longing to see him again. 

I tell you this story because every one of us knows the pain of losing a loved one. It may be very recent for some of us. The pain is as raw as an open gash or a broken bone. For others, time may have smoothed some of the jagged edges of loss. Maybe you’re now able to soothe the pain with the balm of fond memories. We ought to cherish memories, but even greater is the hope Christians have that we will see our lost loved ones again in heaven. 

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.” (1 Thess. 4:13-14 NLT)

Jesus is the basis of our hope. He died in our place, taking on Himself the punishment that we deserve for our sins. God raised Him from the dead. He promised to raise all who put their faith in Jesus to eternal life in heaven. I saw a post on FB recently from someone grieving the loss of her sister and hoping that she is happy wherever she is. That hurt my heart. Not just the pain of loss, but the uncertainty of where she is. 

We don’t have to wonder. We can know for certain where we will go when we die. The loved ones we leave behind can have the same assurance. For you parents, the best gift you can give your children is to trust Jesus for salvation. If you do, they will be certain where you are when you die. It will ease their grief if they are also Christians to know they will see you again. 

The pain of loss never leaves, but it recedes with time. Whether your loss is recent, or if it’s been 50 years like my grandfather Chil, God has invited you to a family reunion with Him and your believing loved ones. You need to RSVP with faith in Jesus. Will you be there?