Leviticus 14:33-57; Psalm 119:41-72; Mark 5:1-20
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Isaiah 61:3
It is a profound experience to watch the life candle of a beloved one flicker out. In our grief, it can seem that all that is left is ash. Yet ash is beautiful when we see it for what it is—the residue of something that has been wholly consumed in the fire. In that moment, God enters our grief, reminding us of the fragrant, sacrificial life of the one who has left us. And we find beauty in the ashes, joy in our mourning and a garment of praise—for the glory they have entered and the example they have left. —S. McEachern
When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory. —E. Hewitt