Rejoice! Again I Say Rejoice!

"If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." (Romans 14:8)

Throughout the course of history galvnization has occured through loss. It is evident in war and battle. When a side suffers a loss, that side returns galvanised, united by grief but also by hope and perserverence.

Last Friday, we lost a little boy to a convulsion he suffered whilst staying at the local hospital. Having admitted this little boy earlier in the week and remembering him resting on my chest, the loss made me wish to go back to that time we were in the hospital. They say hindsight is a beautiful thing and with hindsight there are things I would have done differently. Maybe I would've tried to make him laugh more, made him feel more comfortable, play the clown and generally try and brighten up his day. But what instead happened was that he sat sleeping on my chest, probably dreading leaving familiar settings for the scary and daunting hospital bed.

The week went past with people from Rehoboth going to see him every day just to let him know we were still around and that we hadn't left him. The weekend came and his Housemother went on leave for the weekend. She left on Friday knowing this little 9 month old had the medical attention he needed, and returned on Monday to the news that he had passed away at the weekend.

Devotions yesterday were a sad and sombre occasion as everyone got told of the bad news. People had heard at the weekend but the everyone heard on Monday. We then all had the tough task of trying to organise a celebration day that is happening on Saturday. I knew that it would effect the dynamics of the workers and staff and at first I thought that it would effect them negatively as many people cried, some tried to hold it together, others didn't know what to feel and his poor Housemother sat, in tears, wiping them from her eyes, trying not to let her other kids see. How could we celebrate when this was going on?

Then this morning happened. Devotions began with a beautiful song and the words read;

"Soon and very soon we are going to see the king,
No more crying there we are going to see the king"

Then amongst the silence and murmurs of kids whispering, Thandie the housemother of the little boy who passed away, broke into song. She sang with emotion, feeling, love, despair, joy, pain all in one. The tears rolled down her cheeks as she sang so sweetly, until she broke down. As I mentioned galvanisation often occurs after loss and as Thandie sobbed into her hands, it was so uplifting and amazing to see children, workers, other mothers lend hands of care, offering support, giving what they had to comfort her.

Alfons then taught from Philippians.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus!"

It was the perfect message for the situation. It was a message we all needed to hear.

Before we left, Alfons asked for a translation of the song Thandie sang.

Mak, the Rehoboth driver responded;

"It's about the glorious and beautiful house God has built for us in Heaven. We cannot see it with our eyes but only in our hearts can we see it."

For that moment the squabbles and infighting were put to the side. Mothers sat with each other, comforted each other, worked with and for each other. Rehoboth had been galvanised in the event of this death. Yesterday I thought this might have had a negative effect on the village but now I believe we can celebrate properly. We can celebrate the blessing of life and the promise of Christ that one day we will all walk with him into that glorious and beautiful house in Heaven.

Rob