THE GREATEST GIFT
“I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.” – 1 Jn. 5:13
Today would have marked my grandmother’s birthday, but instead, today I am preparing to attend her viewing. Last Saturday, my grandmother who is the cornerstone of our family passed away. She raised me with unconditional love when I was young, teaching me my earliest lessons about faith and family. She would pray with me. Even though she lived a long and fulfilled life, it has not made saying goodbye any easier. There are so many things I wish she could have seen and so many things I wish I could tell her.
One of the memories that will always stay with me from recent times was when I saw her during Thanksgiving. We went to visit her, and even though her memory was already going, I could still see the light in her eyes as she smiled at us. I sat next to her at her bedside, holding her hand, rubbing it gently as she kept smiling at me while drifting in and out of sleep. The entire time, she held onto me tightly with her warm, wrinkled hand, even as she fell asleep. As my uncle tested her memory during lunch later, eventually it came to my turn. She proudly said, “Tèo!” (my family’s nickname for me) with the warmest smile ever.
During this time, one of the biggest consolations is that she is no longer suffering. Sure, it may be difficult now, but God reminds us in today’s reading that He’s given us the greatest gift: eternal life. Especially now, I know she is with God in heaven through the love of Jesus who gave everything to give us life in heaven with God. Our faith not only gives us this consolation for our own futures, but comforts us in moments like this and more. In tragedy, I found God the closest, being with my family, myself, and my grandmother. From the warm words of friends to the companionship of all my aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, as well as my father and mother, God is with us.
Con nhớ bà nhiều lắm. Con thương bà. I miss you grandma, so much. I love you. I hope you’re up there holding hands with grandpa, at rest and at peace, watching over us.
Dear God, thank you for giving us the greatest gift of all, your son Jesus and His sacrifice and infinite love for us. Please comfort us in our sadness and celebrate with us in our joy, and help us appreciate each and every moment of our lives with the ones we love.
Kevin Nguyen