221.

I've never experienced death more than I have in the past 5 days. It has rocked my world. As I watched a friend say farewell to his unresponsive mother, I wished I could take her place and make his pain disapear. As I saw my best friend's world torn apart, I wanted to cradle her and her family in my arms like a child. I was in shock. I AM in shock. Yet, the pain I feel is not even a fraction compared to what the families feel. But the pain they feel is not even a thousandth of a fraction of how God felt toward His Son.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:!5

There is a big difference between sympathy and empathy. Sympathy is to understand the feelings someone is experiencing and to relate it to another situation you have gone through. Empathy is to vicariously take the feelings of another on yourself and to feel them in their situation as if it was happening to you, even if they haven't communicated their feelings to you.

I so badly wish it could have been me. I wish I could have taken Derrick's place and allowed him to live. I wish I could have taken Jerry's place, and let a mother love her son for just a few more years. Jesus didn't just wish He could take our place, He DID take our place. He saw the destiny we had. He saw our complete destruction due to our sin. He saw the veil that divided us from God. And He came to tear that veil from top to bottom, so that we would no longer be separated from God. He saw our death, and took it upon Himself. Not just your death, but every single death of every single person who has ever lived on this earth. Thank you Lord that You didn't just sympathize with us, but that You empathized our desperation and took it upon Yourself.

Jesus sees the pain and hopelessness you have on this earth. He wants to pick you up in His arms, cradle you and wipe away your tears. He wants to rock you until you settle down and trust Him. He wants to kiss you on the forehead and tell you He loves you. HE LOVES YOU. He died for you, so that when death came... it would have no power over you. If you have never thought of this before, it is something very serious that needs to be considered. Death isn't the fear. Death isn't your final destination. Heaven or Hell is your final destination, and that is based on if you've know God through out your life. You can't just claim God, or call yourself a Christian, but you must allow God to establish Himself and give you a new self in the deepest part of your heart. Be careful then, how you live, now that you know what death looks like. Don't be unwise, but wise and realize that your days are numbered and evil. Make the most of every opportunity like it may be your last. Don't be foolish and know what God's will is!

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:!5-17

I love you Uncle Derrick. I love you Jerry Saad. Rest in peace and give Jesus a big hug for me. Please please please continue to pray for these families. I love you all.