Remembering Daniel's 6th birthday: Reflections by Grandma Bonnie Cruver

I vividly remember my 6th birthday! It was my first surprise birthday party! My dad took me to Endicott Johnson Shoe store where he bought me a brand new pair of shoes. I can still see all those shoes lined up on the shelf and the new pair that I wore home as I rode in the front seat of the car, alone with my dad. When we arrived home, it was a total surprise that many of my young friends and neighbors were in our back yard, with a table stacked with presents. The memory of my 6th birthday is one of the highlights of my childhood memories.

Today, October 12, 2005 is our grandson Daniel's 6th birthday. However, there will be no party....instead, a huge void of what might have been. Six year old Daniel has been in the presence of the Lord for 3 years. God loaned Daniel for those 3 years. We cannot quarrel with the Sovereign God for taking what He owns.

When this Grandmother thinks about what might have been...a six year old, a birthday party, balloons, hats, presents, cake and ice cream, family and friends gathering....clearly these thoughts pale in comparison to the joy in Heaven when God called Daniel Home to Heaven after Daniel had graced our family for those 3 short years and a month, ( here a short time and gone forever), and ten weeks ago God called my mother Home, (hear for a long time and gone forever). But, because of the saving grace of God, we will one day be with them forever.

My heart rejoices in the fact that my mother and father introduced me to the Gospel of Christ and lead me to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, as they made Christ and His Word the focus of our home; and now our children are teaching their children what it means to know Christ as their personal Saviour. Whether we are here a short time or a long time, we will someday be gone from this life forever, but because of the grace of God and His saving grace in our lives, we will be together with Christ forever.

My heart takes great comfort that Daniel is having his 6th birthday in Heaven and his great grandmother has joined him, along with other family members that have gone before. Paul says in I Corinthians 2:9b "no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." The vastness and depth of God's plan for eternity is overwhelming.

There is great sadness and pain in the separation by death of a loved one, but there is great anticipated joy in being reunited because of Christ Who loved us and gave Himself for us.

In the midst of moments of sadness for a missed 6 year old's birthday party, or not being able to pick up the phone and hear my dear mother's voice, the Word of God gives great comfort...."Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." II Corinthians 1:3 & 4.

The following poem by David MacBeth Moir has recently been a blessing to me, during this time of sad reflection on what might have been. A missed 6th birthday can't compare to eternity with God.

"Fair thee well, thou fondly cherished;
Dear, dear spirit, fare thee well.
He who sent thee now hath called thee
Back with Him and His to dwell.

Like a sunbeam through our dwelling
Shone thy presence, bright and calm;
Thou did'st add a zest to pleasure;
To our sorrows thou wast balm.

Yet while mourning, O, our lost one,
Come no visions of despair;
Seated on thy tomb, Faith's angel
Saith, thou art not, art not there.

Where, then, art thou? With the Saviour,
Blest forever, to be;
'Mid the sinless little children
Who have heard this: "Come to me."

Passed the shades of death's dark valley,
Thou art leaning on His breast,
Where the wicked may not enter
And the weary are at rest."