...Today you will be with me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise. Luke 23:43

My son Derek was a very kind and well-mannered young man, a lot of folks told me. Of course, I thought so, too. He was also a good father to his young son, and a good Christian. He gave me a “large print” Bible for my birthday in 2004, which I read every morning with my devotions. 

I open the front where he wrote “To Mom” and I can hear him say 
“M-O-M” the way he always said it, and it makes me smile. Derek had small blood vessels going to his heart, and one day in October 2015 his heart just stopped, and God called him HOME. I know he is in heaven, and that is a comfort, but I still miss him very much. Anyone who has lost a loved one, especially a child, can relate. The grieving process is not an easy thing to go through. But, we all know our days on this earth are numbered; we just don’t know when our number will be called. But knowing that heaven awaits us and our loved ones is a very comforting thought. 

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for loaning Derek to me while he was on this earth, and thank you for taking care of him now! Amen.

Ann Cole

About the Contributor

Ann has been a member of Covenant Presbyterian since 1957. She is a Deacon and Elder, Circle leader, and plays the hand bells. She has also been church secretary since 2001.