In the mid-1990s I started getting closer and closer to a MANA co-worker, Abby Kinne. When I found out that her husband was a pastor, I asked her to ask him to look up a Bible verse a friend had written me when my husband died in 1981. I remembered a little of the story in the verse, but couldn’t find it again in the Bible. Fred found the verse, and I’ve remembered it ever since. This morning as I sit at my computer with tears either falling or about to, I remembered that search and realized that, once again, this Bible verse is appropriate today for all of us who morn the loss of a wonderful friend.
2 Samuel 12:18-23
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed [himself], and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
Then said his servants unto him, What thing [is] this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, [while it was] alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell [whether] GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
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We can’t bring Abby back, but we can all see her again in Heaven.