In the past few weeks, our quiet little neighborhood has felt the weight of sorrow. We’ve had to say goodbye to two friends—faithful, kind souls whose absence leaves a hollow space in our hearts and our routines. Their smiles, their warmth, the way they showed up for others… it’s all missed deeply.

Death has a way of stopping us in our tracks. It reminds us of how fragile life is. How quickly the days slip by. How precious our time together really is.

But for those of us who follow Christ, grief is not the final word.

Yes, we mourn. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of His friend. But we do not mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Because we know—deep down—that this broken world is not our forever home.

The promise of heaven isn’t just a theological concept. It’s the anchor we cling to when the waves of sorrow threaten to pull us under. It’s the reassurance that our loved ones who died in Christ are more alive now than ever before. They are in the presence of their Savior. Whole. Healed. Home.

Revelation 21:4 tells us, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain…” What a beautiful picture of eternity with our Lord.

Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we do not walk alone. And we do not walk without hope.

So today, as I grieve the loss of two cherished neighbors, I also rest in the assurance that death does not win. Jesus conquered the grave. And because of Him, there will come a day when every goodbye becomes a glorious reunion.

From the song, “Scars in Heaven” by Casting Crowns:

“The only scars in Heaven, they won’t belong to me and you.”

This powerful line captures the song’s central theme of comfort and hope in the face of loss, reminding us that in Heaven, pain is no more. And the only scars in Heaven are on the hands that will hold us.

Until then, may we live with purpose, love each other well, and hold fast to the hope of heaven.

With grace and remembrance,
Mary