Gratituesday: Not Goodbye, But "See You Later"

This Tuesday I find myself so grateful for the hope we have in Christ. On Saturday morning, a dear friend of our family, Mr. Morrison passed on into glory after nearly 94 years on this earth.

 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."
 -Psalm 116:15 

I rejoice that he is in heaven with his Savior and that he has been reunited with his wife, Doris, and many other saints who have gone on before him. We miss him, but as I stood next to his casket tonight I realized that I was not truly saying goodbye, but "see you later."

"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, 

concerning those who have fallen asleep, 

lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, 

even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord,

 that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord 

will by no means precede those who are asleep. 

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, 

with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. 

And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together 

with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 

And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 

Therefore comfort one another with these words."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18