Emptiness Crept In ~
As Believers in The Lordship of Jesus Christ, we all mentally accept that everyone will either die on this side or be raptured. Those are the two alternatives for leaving this earth. Truth be told, we all prefer that we are all raptured together rather than to lose a loved one to death. I mean we know these things, but we tend to push it out of our minds because well, we don’t want our loved ones to go. But when those times come, it’s hard to bear because well, we thought they would never go. Now they are gone and an emptiness has crept in, a longing for their presence sometimes catches us off guard. Honestly, we never really wanted to prepare for this moment. But here it is and although we are not alone, we feel lonely.
Then there are those of us who have lost loved ones to mental decline due to Alzheimer’s or other forms of Dementia. They are still with us physically, but the essence of who we have depended on them to be is no longer here. We long for the person who was; we thought they would never leave. But here we are with the dichotomy of being grateful that we can still lay our eyes on them, but crying on the inside because we miss them; they weren’t supposed to leave us. Here we are in their presence, yet alone. We never really know how much we depend on the active presence of others in our lives until…well, they’re gone. Here we are once again in a place of perceived loneliness.
As celebratory moments occur in our lives, we pause because they are supposed to be here. Holidays, birthdays, graduations, pain, sickness, valleys and mountaintops, world chaos, they are supposed to be here!!!! The tears come and sometimes we even want to scream because we thought they would always be here. The marriage we thought was for better or worse; the friend that was supposed to be our BFFs for life. They weren’t supposed to leave. They were supposed to be here, FOREVER!!! But they are gone and here we are in this space of loneliness.
As I thought about this article and the holiday season we are in, the Lord laid something on my heart, that brought a smile to my face. As I navigate the realities of both death and dementia, God reminded me that Christmas is not just a day, it is every day. Why? Because Immanuel has come. The positive impact that those individuals have had on my life was because God was with them, just as, right here, at this moment, He is with me. The wisdom that I long to have them impart just one more time, is still here. Why? Because Immanuel has come. The joy that their laughter brought to my life, it’s still here. Why? Because Immanuel has come. Every good and perfect thing they imparted into my life came from God. Therefore, everything they imparted to me is still available for me. Why? Because Immanuel has come. My Joy, my Peace, my Comfort, my Wisdom, it’s all still here because God is with me. Yes, there is a pain in their involuntary departure. Yes, the tears still come because I miss them. I miss my Grandfather, I miss my Grandmother, I miss my Bishop, I miss my Aunt…they weren’t supposed to leave me. However, the frowns turn upside down when I focus on the blessings that came from just having them in my life. I am learning to let the memories fill in the empty spaces.
No, they weren’t supposed to leave me. But Immanuel is with me always. It is in this that I take comfort.
Currently Rhonda is a member of High Calling Ministries under the Pastoral Leadership of Pastor George W. Hawkins, Jr. There she serves as the Lead Instructor for the Ministers In Training Program (Phase I), and Intercessory Prayer Team Member. Prior to attending High Calling, Rhonda served for 17 years at Hope Church of God in Washington, DC under the leadership of Bishop Samuel L. McPherson, Sr. While at Hope Rhonda served as the Director of Youth Ministries. Rhonda was also the Youth Bible Study teacher and headed various evangelistic outreach activities.
Rhonda graduated from Peirce College with an Associate in Paralegal Studies; Liberty University with a Bachelor in Religion; and is currently pursuing her Master in Religious Education from Liberty University. She has been employed at the University of Maryland for 20 years.
Rhonda is a strong proponent of Godly entertainment. She strongly believes that what we feed the inner man, will manifest in the outer man.
