When Good Things Follow Bad
Have you ever had something really good and happy happen just after something sad and difficult? I have, just in the last two weeks. It felt like God was giving me something to smile about in the midst of a sorrowful time.
Two weeks ago, we held a celebration of life service for my mother. She passed on July 30 but Saturday, September 23 was the earliest everyone in our immediate family could get home for it. Last weekend, my husband and I along with our daughter and son-in-law went to Nashville to celebrate our grandson’s first birthday. These were two vastly different events.
While my mother’s health has been declining over the past few years, it was still difficult to watch her die and then celebrate her life. We saw so many friends and family at her celebration of life service. It was a testimony of how well she was loved. But still, it was hard to gather to say goodbye. There was definitely a sense of closure and finality.
We had already decided to sell my mother’s house, with her approval, so in addition to saying goodbye to our mother and grandmother we were saying goodbye to a home full of memories. There were some tears as my brother and his family and me and my family realized we would never again gather together in this home. My husband and I are the only ones left in town — my brother and his family along with my two children and their spouses are scattered across the southeastern United States so it is unlikely we will all gather in our hometown again.
The day after my mom’s service, everyone headed to their respective homes. The following day, a Monday, my husband and I loaded up the car and headed north to rest, recharge, and enjoy the fall colors in North Carolina.
Joy After Sorrow
Since our grandson was born on September 30, 2022, shortly after we arrived in the mountains of North Carolina, we left to drive to Nashville to celebrate his first birthday. My daughter and son-in-law joined us there. We had a wonderful weekend celebrating this little one who has brought so much joy to our family this past year.
The theme of his party was Harry Potter — the chosen ONE. His parents, my son, and daughter-in-law, encouraged everyone to join the fun and come in costume. It was fun seeing everyone in their costumes — from the elaborate to the ones who came as Muggles (no costumes). We were all pleasantly surprised that people in funny costumes didn’t seem to bother Leo in the least.
If you read my eulogy for my mother in last week’s blog post, you will know she enjoyed a good costume party. We even commented to each other that “Grandmom would have loved this”. I so wish I could have shown her the pictures.
The following day, the two families witnessed our newest little family member’s baptism and dedication. It was a meaningful service as his parents, his family, and his church family promised to raise him in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The joy and happiness of celebrating our grandson’s first birthday tempered the sadness we felt saying goodbye to our mother and grandmother.
Not An Uncommon Experience
This isn’t the first time I have experienced this. It’s not the first time something very joyful has come on the heels of something very sorrowful. As I look back on the events of my life some of these moments stand out.
- My best year of teaching was the year I suffered a miscarriage on Labor Day Weekend.
- We found out we were expecting our son just days after my father-in-law died.
- We found out we were expecting our daughter three months after my mother-in-law died.
- We knew our grandson was on the way when my dad died last summer.
I know that it isn’t always like this. I know that some people experience extreme hardship and suffering with seemingly nothing good in sight. But, it has been my experience that God often blesses me with something sweet and good after I have endured something painful.
Life And Cookies
When I was a kid, I used to love eating Oreo cookies. I would separate the cookie and eat the sweet, creamy filling first. After that, I would dip the chocolate cookie part in milk to soften it up and make it taste even better.
I feel like the last couple of years, my life has been like that cookie. The death of both of my parents is the hard crunchy part. The birth of my grandson, in between those losses, is everything good and sweet like the creamy inside of the cookie.
I’m so thankful to know we have a God who loves us and has good things for us. I will continue to look for those good things even in the midst of sad and difficult times.
How about you? Have you ever experienced what I’m talking about? Have you ever felt God’s blessing after a difficult time? I would love to hear.
Kim Wilbanks 