This song is for those of us who are left behind…
I still need this song. When Jan told me she was ready to die, we discussed what Heaven or Paradise would be like. She thought it might be like Montana while I though more of Scotland. We had been to some beautiful places in God creation. We decided Heaven is beyond our imaginings. Then she spoke of seeing colors beyond belief. Truly the vision of an artist’s eye. Eventually I said, ” You are going to be with Our Lord.” After that I burst out sobbing uncontrollably knowing selfishly that she would be leaving me…
My beloved George MacDonald wrote that Jesus was ‘disappointed’ in Martha and Mary, Lazarus’ sisters, when they ask The Lord to bring their brother back to this transitory life. MacDonald felt Jesus’ disappointment was that Lazarus was with His Father in Paradise. To return meant their brother would have to endure life’s trial and tribulations only to face death again. We, like Martha and Mary, who are left may well be selfish to want our loved ones back…
Here are more thoughts of George MacDonald on praying for others as I and others prayed for Jan:
“….he who prays for his friends shall be heard of God. I do not say he shall have whatever he asks for. God forbid. But he shall be heard. And the man who does not see the good of that, knows nothing of the good of prayer; can, I fear, as yet, only pray for himself, when most he fancies he is praying for his friend. Often, indeed, when men suppose they are concerned for the well-beloved, they are only concerned about what they shall do without them. Let them pray for themselves instead, for that will be the truer prayer. I repeat, all prayer is assuredly heard:—what evil matter is it that it should be answered only in the right time and right way? The prayer argues a need—that need will be supplied. One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. All who have prayed shall one day justify God and say—Thy answer is beyond my prayer, as thy thoughts and thy ways are beyond my thoughts and my ways.”
Excerpt From: ‘Miracles of Our Lord’ by George MacDonald