By Chris WittsMonday 1 Apr 2024Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 1 minute
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Transcript:
I read my local newspaper recently and saw a photo of a young man I’ll name Daniel. That’s not his real name. He was born in 1981 and died tragically in April 2010—still a young man in his late 30s.
His family must have placed the notice, In loving Memory. I’m sure you’ve seen similar notices—they appear virtually every day, Our precious son, brother, father and friend. You are missed more than words can ever say. Love you to the moon and back… It struck me, what a moving tribute to someone who died. I don’t know the circumstances, but I do know there is a grieving family today who miss Daniel very much. Love you to the moon and back—a popular expression that comes from a much loved children’s book Guess How Much I Love You, published in 1995, written by Sam McBratney and with over 18 million copies sold worldwide. It’s a wonderful children’s bedtime story.
All the Way to the Moon
Little Nutbrown Hare was trying to say he loved Big Nutbrown Hare more than Big Nutbrown Hare loved him. He tried all kinds of ways to show how much he loved Big Nutbrown Hare. He reached out as wide as he could reach. He reached up as high as he could. He turned himself upside down and stretched out his feet. He even tried jumping in the air as high as he could jump. No matter what he did to show how much he loved Big Nutbrown Hare, guess what? Big Nutbrown Hare loved him that much more.
Finally, Little Nutbrown Hare says he loves Big Nutbrown Hare all the way to the moon. That’s a real long way. That’s 384,400 km. Do you know how far that is? Big Nutbrown Hare even admits that’s a whole lot of love. But Big Nutbrown Hare loves even more. He loves all the way to the moon and back. That’s where the expression comes from—a delightful children’s book.
But for Daniel’s mother, imagine the heart break and anguish of losing her son in death. She loved her son so much—all the way to the moon and back. If you’ve lost your son or daughter, you will know immediately what I mean. Death is devastating and affects so many families.
When the Unthinkable Happens
Nothing is more shocking, emotional, or final than the death of a loved one. Facing the death of someone you love—a child, a spouse, a parent, a close friend—is one of life’s most difficult experiences.
Your head is spinning with so many thoughts, feelings, and emotions. You can’t grasp that you’ve had your last visit, your last conversation, your last meal, and your last holiday with your loved one. Your mind is flooded with things you wish you had said or done. You want to say, I love you one more time, and you want to hear it said to you. Your warehouse of memories is filled with fond and painful remembrances, and you are holding tightly to that treasured collection of fading photographs. You don’t feel ready to say goodbye or to deal with the grief that’s overtaken you.
Unfortunately, you can’t prepare for the death of a loved one. Whether death results from a sudden accident or a long illness, it always catches us unprepared. Death is so deeply emotional and stunningly final that there is nothing you can do ahead of time that will help you sail through your moment of loss.
Those who knew that death was coming and those who were taken completely by surprise will go through many of the same things.