Engraved on The Palms of His Hands
Shortly before Christmas 2017, 3 months after Chris’ passing, Rose Mary and I arrived home from a movie and I saw that our mailbox lid was open. As I fetched the plastic protected card, I immediately cried as people were still dropping off heartfelt cards, and doing other meaningful acts of kindness, to help us through our grieving. When I opened the card, I bawled my eyes out. It was probably the most impactful card I have ever received.
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Engraved on The Palms of His Hands
Shortly before Christmas 2017, 3 months after Chris’ passing, Rose Mary and I arrived home from a movie and I saw that our mailbox lid was open. As I fetched the plastic protected card, I immediately cried as people were still dropping off heartfelt cards, and doing other meaningful acts of kindness, to help us through our grieving. When I opened the card, I bawled my eyes out. It was probably the most impactful card I have ever received.
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands….” Isaiah 49:16″
Our friend Joanne had received my email informing people how difficult it was “erasing” Chris’ name from his various things (RRSPs, bank accounts, truck, cell phone, etc.). Immediately, the above scripture verse came to her mind, so Joanne had a young artist create the incredible card for us along with kind words on behalf of her family. I was so overwhelmed!
It is true that I felt like a part of Chris was dying little by little as we took his name off his earthly possessions. In fact, the day we transferred his cell phone plan and number over to my sister, many in our family could not replace Chris’ name with my sister’s name. To this day, Rose Mary and I still receive texts and phone calls from “Chris Ekren” whenever my sister Linette communicates with us.
Joanne’s card was a great reminder that God is in control. I can’t prove it but, by faith, I believe it to be so. He knows and loves us before we are even physically born. He loves Chris, and every human being, more than any earthly person could, even the most loving parent. Author Henri Nouwen speaks to this when he says:
“We are the Beloved. We are intimately loved long before our parents, teachers, spouses, children and friends loved or wounded us . . . I hear at my center words that say: “I have called you by name, from the very beginning. You are mine and I am yours. You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests. I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother’s womb. I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace. I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child. I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step. Wherever you go, I go with you, and wherever you rest, I keep watch . . . wherever you are I will be. Nothing will ever separate us. We are one.” Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World (New York: Crossroad Publishing, 1992), 30-31.
Most people who suffer the loss of a loved one need hope that their suffering is not in vain. They need to believe that the death of their loved one will somehow result in good, perhaps new life. Rose Mary and I are two such people. We have a sense of peace knowing that Chris’ faith assures him of everlasting life with his Creator, who has Chris’ name engraved on the palms of His hands.
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands….” Isaiah 49:16″
Our friend Joanne had received my email informing people how difficult it was “erasing” Chris’ name from his various things (RRSPs, bank accounts, truck, cell phone, etc.). Immediately, the above scripture verse came to her mind, so Joanne had a young artist create the incredible card for us along with kind words on behalf of her family. I was so overwhelmed!
It is true that I felt like a part of Chris was dying little by little as we took his name off his earthly possessions. In fact, the day we transferred his cell phone plan and number over to my sister, many in our family could not replace Chris’ name with my sister’s name. To this day, Rose Mary and I still receive texts and phone calls from “Chris Ekren” whenever my sister Linette communicates with us.
Joanne’s card was a great reminder that God is in control. I can’t prove it but, by faith, I believe it to be so. He knows and loves us before we are even physically born. He loves Chris, and every human being, more than any earthly person could, even the most loving parent. Author Henri Nouwen speaks to this when he says:
“We are the Beloved. We are intimately loved long before our parents, teachers, spouses, children and friends loved or wounded us . . . I hear at my center words that say: “I have called you by name, from the very beginning. You are mine and I am yours. You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests. I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother’s womb. I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace. I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child. I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step. Wherever you go, I go with you, and wherever you rest, I keep watch . . . wherever you are I will be. Nothing will ever separate us. We are one.” Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World (New York: Crossroad Publishing, 1992), 30-31.
Most people who suffer the loss of a loved one need hope that their suffering is not in vain. They need to believe that the death of their loved one will somehow result in good, perhaps new life. Rose Mary and I are two such people. We have a sense of peace knowing that Chris’ faith assures him of everlasting life with his Creator, who has Chris’ name engraved on the palms of His hands.