How shall there be a testimony without a test? Can one testify to the faithfulness of God if that faith has not been tested?

My sister in law went home to her Lord and Savior a week ago today. My heart has been in my throat stopping up any words that ever I might have had for over two weeks as we awaited the call of her Lord upon her body. I had a dream one night about her telling me she was no longer cold all the time, and soon Jesus was going to call her name and she would go to Him. We ached, we cried, we rejoiced.

My husband’s sister had more testimony than most. Her first husband passed, then her young daughter died young, and yet, she was faithful. Just as God was there for her, she was there in the community for so many people. The largess of one’s testimony is not truly experienced until the grieving days. The out pouring of people and their time, gifts, and flowers at the funeral is a natural reaction to the testimony of a believers faith.

The children’s sermon on Sunday after all the eventful week was about the overflowing love and faithfulness of the heavenly Father. We had just witnessed this overflow. The love of the Lord was an overflow in Monica’s life to all those she met. And that love was poured back into her family in their moment of grief.

Psalm 23 has a phrase… “my cup runneth over” that follows the concept that God has prepared a table before us in the very presence of our enemies. And yet, He blesses us so abundantly that our cup runs over. We just witnessed the truth of that passage. While it seemed so much had been taken from Monica throughout her life, yet God had blessed more. God took away, but He also gave, to the point of overflowing cup of love.

There are so many little things that one remembers of another. Some of those stories are just for our own grieving hearts to heal. Other memories come at just the right moment to bring a smile that wipes away a current tear.

This moment of grief is bittersweet. We have grieved much these last two years with passing of parents and other relatives. It seems fitting that our dear sister who mourned much in her life should have her joy and rest after this season of sorrow in our lives. One’s heart can only endure so much sorrow. We are thankful for the little lives that have joined us these past two years. Her grandsons, our little grandson and another on the way, reminds us that God turns our sorrow into joy.

Lord, I am reminded of the song “Trading my sorrows” that was popular a number of years ago. I ask that you would turn our grief to rejoicing as we remember Monica and her love for You. Lift our spirits with the hope that only eternal reunions can bring. May the sweet by and by become sweeter every day.

Psalm 126:5-6 “those who sow in tears, shall reap with joy. He who continually goes forth weeping bearing seed for sowing shall doubtless come again with rejoicing Bringing the sheaves with him.”

My dear sister in law lived this verse to full and overflowing spreading the seeds of love and eternal hope wherever she went. And we rejoice that someday, her family and the rest of us, shall be gathered once again in the heavenly realms as great sheaves of harvest. How fitting that she should go home to those who have gone before during harvest season.