Paradise

This is why death is not the end of the story, just the end of the chapter.  

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."

It is well.

Setting: Israel, during the time of Elisha.

Disclaimer: Not my story. *smile*  See II Kings 4:8-37 for the original telling, this is simply my version of it. 

Harvest.  My favorite time of year.  She turns from the window as the servant bursts through the door, eyes narrowing with concern when she saw the servant carried her child, her only son.  "A headache," the servant gasps out, regaining his breath.  Quickly gathering her son from the servant's arms, she thanks him, and sends him back to the fields to re-join the reapers before the storm clouds rise.

She rocked back and forth in an effort to calm her son’s crying.  He was starting to slow down finally, but he was warm.  So warm.  He felt as though he was dropping into sleep.  This was good; he would probably sleep it off.  She laid him on the straw pallet in the corner and wet a rag to lay on his forehead in an attempt to cool him down.  Returning to her son, she thought his breathing was shallow but attributed it to him sleeping.  But it kept getting slower and finally stopped.  Elisha! He can pray to God and bring him back to us.  I must go to him now.  

She ran to her husband through the stubble in the wheat fields, skirts and hair flapping in the wind.  "Jacob!  My husband! I need a young man and one of the donkeys to find the man of God and return."

"Why do you need to see him today?  It is neither New Moon nor the Sabbath."

"All will be well.  Thank you, Jacob!"

"Do not slow on my account."  The servant nodded and urged the donkey to move as quickly as possible.  Although appearing relatively calm on the outside, her insides were pounding with shock and grief.  Surely Elisha can bring our son back to us.  They bounced quickly along towards Mount Carmel where the he was known to stay.

Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, met her before she reached Elisha himself to question if all is well at Elisha’s request.  She told him that all is well.

They reach the man of God.  She climbs out of the cart, and kneels at his feet, shuddering as the tears finally began to flow down, pounding the dirt and wetting his feet.  "Did I ask you to give me a son?  Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me'?"

Elisha instantly realizes what has happened and sends Gehazi with his staff. "Do not stop to greet anyone and do not answer any greetings, but go and lay my staff across the face of the child."

The woman refuses to leave Elisha so they follow behind Gehazi who is running to reach the child.  They reach the house soon after Gehazi and find Gehazi unable to awaken the child.   Elisha closes himself in the room with the dead child and prays to the Lord.  He stretched his body over the child to warm the child's body twice, and the child sneezed seven times and awoke the second time.  She runs into the room after Gehazi tells her the news, falls to the floor and thanks Elisha while praising God, then gathers her son from the bed and leaves, crying tears of joy and thankfulness.

 __________________________________________

All is Well-to her husband when her son had just died.

All is Well-to Gehazi when he asks in Elisha’s name

Not until she reaches Elisha does she ask “Why?  Why did you ask God to give me a son to take him away?”

What faith.  She knew that God could bring her son back through His servant, Elisha.

Yet I worry about little things.  The test I have on Tuesday (if you think of me, please pray), projects due with too little time.  Worry doesn’t accomplish anything anyways though, other than taking up precious time and preventing us from seeing the gifts that God has placed in our lives.

What can we do to stop worrying and start praising God all the time, not just when we feel like it?  What do you do?

A video about Horatio Stafford, the man who wrote the hymn, It is Well, and his story.  You can turn off the music player on the right side by clicking the pause button.

Linking with Ann today:

Yesterday, Today, and Forever

I thank Thee, God, that I have lived in this great world and known its many joys; The song of the birds, the strong sweet scent of hay and cooling breezes in the secret dusk, the flaming sunsets at the close of the day, hills, and the lonely, heather-covered moors, music at night, and moonlight on the sea, the beat of waves upon the rocky shore and wild, white spray, flung high in ecstasy: The faithful eyes of dogs, and treasured books. The love of kin and fellowship of friends, and all that makes life dear and beautiful. I thank Thee, too, that there has come to me a little sorrow and, sometimes, defeat, a little heartache and loneliness that comes with parting, and the word, "Goodbye," dawn breaking after dreary hours of pain, when I discovered that night's gloom must yield and morning light break through to me again. Because of these and other blessings poured unasked upon my wondering head, because I know that there is yet to come an even richer and more glorious life, and most of all, because Thine only Son once sacrificed life's loveliness for me--I thank Thee, God, that I have lived. 

~Elizabeth, Countess of Craven, England (1750-1828)

Thoughts for the weekend: Psalm 121

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
         From whence comes my help?
 My help comes from the LORD,
         Who made heaven and earth.
         

 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
         He who keeps you will not slumber.
 Behold, He who keeps Israel
         Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
        
 The LORD is your keeper;
         The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
 The sun shall not strike you by day,
         Nor the moon by night.
         

 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
         He shall preserve your soul.
 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
         From this time forth, and even forevermore.