Catching Flies With Honey or Vinegar?

Today the son of our Vice President Joe Biden passed away from brain cancer. (Click on link for full story).  When I first heard this news this morning my heart jumped into my throat and my eyes filled with tears.  Not because I am a fan of Joe Biden or any of his philosophy of politics, etc., but because he is a father who has just said good-bye to his beloved son here on earth.  Because he is a parent who is grieving and hurting and in need of comfort and strength that only God can give at a time like this.  Because I too am a parent who has been touched by this same grief.  One year ago I also said goodbye to my beloved son here on earth.

On my Facebook page I posted the above news article with the following statement:

"No matter what your political view may be, when someone loses a child, whether it be to cancer or accident or other tragedy, hearts are broken. My prayers go out to the Biden family today as they mourn the loss of their son Beau. This is not an easy "club" to belong to...the club of parents who have lost a child. I never chose to become a member of this club, and I am certain VP Joe Biden would not choose to be here either. I understand from reading this article that this is not the first child he has lost, in addition to his first wife. May God give this family strength and comfort during this time."

One thing I have learned since going through the loss of my son is that when someone loses a loved one, regardless of their political stance, religious affiliation, race, nationality or even sexual orientation...yes, I said that...now hear me out...regardless of any of that stuff, when a human being has lost someone very dear to them, it is not my place to judge them or make comments regarding how I think they should respond or act or change...it is my place to extend the love of Christ toward them...to pray for their comfort...to hold them  up to the Father with love and compassion...to show them the same comfort that He has shown me in my times of tribulation:

"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 trouble,

with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,

so our consolation also abounds through Christ."

II Corinthians 1:3-5

I would hate to think that when my son died there were well meaning people making comments that they hoped his death would cause me to change...or that somehow my son's death was because of my political viewpoint or religious beliefs or because of my or any of my family member's sins.  If anyone felt that way I am so thankful that they kept their opinions to themselves.  If anyone feels like they should pray that God will change my heart or my beliefs or political viewpoint now that my son has died, you may go ahead and pray that if you think that is necessary...but please leave the judging to God.  I recently wrote about this in the following link:"Interesting Insight Today".   Jesus said:

"I have come as a light into the world,

that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, 

I do not judge him; 

for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words,

has that which judges him--

the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day."

John 12:46-48

And also:

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,

but that the world through Him might be SAVED!"

John 3:17

Again, I say that even though I may not agree with someone's viewpoint or lifestyle, etc., it is not my place to judge them...but to LOVE THEM AS CHRIST LOVED THEM AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR THEM.  Especially when they are hurting and grieving.  Save the preaching for another time. Right now just extend the Love of Christ to them and their family.  Pray for them to be comforted as only Christ can comfort them.  If there is any changing to be done in the heart...God knows how to reach them.

You know the old saying "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar?"  Well, I think if we as Christians would practice this saying more often, we just might win more "flies" to the Lord.  Yes, there is a time and a place for strong preaching and teaching and exhortation.  But the time of grief and loss is not the time.  This is the time for love and compassion and wisdom.

"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us,

an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."

Ephesians 5:1-2

Amen.

Who Can Find a Virtuous Wife?

"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.  The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.  She does him good and not evil all the days of her life."  Proverbs 31:10-12

Elizabeth Edwards, 1949-2010

Today Elizabeth Edwards passed from this life into eternity.  Although I did not know Elizabeth Edwards personally, how could I not know about her as her most private, personal life struggles were very much before the public eyes for almost the past decade?  I have not read either of her books, nor have I followed all of her story very closely.  But I admired her courage, her wisdom, and her strength of character in the midst of a very challenging, painful passage in her life.

I did not realize until tonight's newscast that the Edwards' had lost a precious son to a car accident back in 1996, when the boy was just sixteen years old.  Then, Elizabeth's continual battle with breast cancer, followed by the horrendous news that her Presidential-candidate husband had been having an extra-marital affair that actually went beyond just an "affair", but led to him fathering a  child with this "other woman"....all while he was still married to his wife of thirty-something years and the father of their four wonderful children. All this while Elizabeth was battling for her own life, fighting the ravages of breast cancer that today finally claimed her as another victim.

I do not know anything about Elizabeth's personal relationship with God...was she a believer in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior?  Even though she and her husband stood on the more liberal side of the political fence, I can't help but think that she had some very strong beliefs undergirding her throughout her ordeal.  It would be extremely difficult indeed to go through such tragedies without the comfort of a loving, compassionate Savior to carry her through.  But, as I said, I don't know where she stood in relation to Christ...maybe some of you may know.  I truly hope that she had made peace with God in her heart and soul, and that she is enjoying the welcoming embrace of her heavenly Father right now as we think of her...and that she is also hugging and holding onto her long-missed son, savoring the sweet fragrance of his spirit with her once again.

Again, I don't know where Elizabeth stood with God, but somehow I see her in the Proverb quoted above...

Proverbs 31:10 ~ "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies."  

Yes, I can see that.

"The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So HE will have no lack of gain..." (verse 11)...

Yes, I can see that, too.  Her husband trusted her, but unfortunately he himself did not prove trustworthy.

"She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." (verse 12)...

Yes, I see that as well.  Even when he was selfishly pursuing his own foolish desires and dreams, she continued to stand by him and did not speak evil of him.  For the sake of their children, perhaps...or maybe because that's just the kind of woman Elizabeth Edwards was...a true classy lady...one who would not stoop to injure another just because he had injured her first.  She continued to do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Did her husband deserve such a wife as Elizabeth Edwards proved to be? No, decidedly not.  But I pray that her strength of character and demonstration of true love will long be remembered...by her children, her friends, and yes, even her husband.  I hope that in her death he will finally come to realize what a fool he has been, and that perhaps he will find redemption for his own soul.  For the sake of their children...and even the little "love-child" he had brought into this world...I pray he will become the kind of man God wants him to be. 

I pray that Elizabeth Edwards will truly rest in peace.  And may God be with her family who have been left behind, both now and for eternity.   Amen.