It’s been several months since my last post. I’ve thought of posting many times but never committed myself to sitting down and actually writing something.
There have been a few milestones since I have last posted. We’re nearing the nine month mark, and we are now on the short, downhill path toward Abram’s first birthday (and death day). It’s strange to think in those terms. I don’t want to overstate the strangeness, but it is to a certain degree strange. Should I say the anniversary of his birth, or the anniversary of his death, or his birthday? It seems like each one of these options carries a different connotation. I think I prefer to say it’s his birthday.
Abram’s grave marker was also delivered. It took much longer than we expected, but it was finally delivered and installed in December. I thought quite a bit about what I wanted it to look like and what I wanted it to say, and I am happy with how it came out.
There is a vase flanked by simple crosses, his name centered, and his birth/death date and a verse from John 11 at the bottom.
This verse comes from a passage of Scripture where Jesus comes to his friend Lazarus’ grave. Lazarus has been dead for several days, and while Jesus is in due time going to raise him from the dead, he first takes the opportunity to speak with Martha—friend of Jesus and sister of the dead man. After Martha says that she knows Lazarus will be raised again in the resurrection of the last day, Jesus says to her, “...I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (ESV)
Not only do I love this declaration and confession of Jesus as the hope for all peoples, and not only does it bring hope and comfort to those who have lost a loved one in Christ, but it was my hope that, just maybe, through God’s Providence, some afflicted soul would see this verse on his grave marker and look it up. Perhaps this person would see Jesus’ statement and following question and consider within his or her heart if this belief could become their own. Even if this never happens, I couldn’t think of a better verse to mark my son’s grave.