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Thursday

Death, no more

Last November, my little sister Joscelyne died.

She was 28, married with two kids, Justin and Sophia.

She loved cooking, baking and singing.

She had earned one master's degree, and was in the midst of completing another.

She loved fashion- shoes, dresses, makeup and jewelry.

She was a complete celebrity gossip hound- Kim K, Kanye, Jigga and Beyonce.

She was my little sister, and just like that, our relationship, with all it's ups and downs, stopped. No "fin" with the rolling credits, no happily ever after. Her death handed me an end, but nothing close to a resolution.

Full stop.

Jos, age 10, and me, age 12

This Easter, was of course, my first without her. All throughout childhood, the two of us wore little matching dresses on Easter. Oh, we were decked out, with little white patent leather maryjanes and lacy socks and gloves. Our father would declare us "Sharp", and we'd march into church feeling like beauty queens. By the time I was 12, I had begun to loathe the whole affair. I was in middle school, and we weren't Tia and Tamera. That picture above was our last year playing Patty Duke.

Sitting in the  pew on Sunday, a portion of Scripture touched my heart like never before. 

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
 
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
I Corinthians 15:19-26

Paul is so blunt there. He lays it out. If we Christians don't have hope in Christ beyond this life, then we must be pitied. This Christianity thing, it goes far beyond nice little tips for being a good person. Nope, it's a matter of life and death. Christ's triumph over death is the heart, the crux of the matter. It is on this that we base our hope.

It is on this- death's defeat- I can lay my sorrow. I wrote before of the "little deaths" I experience at the loss of Jos. One day, one glad morning, I know, death will be no more. Those closing credits will roll, a final resolution.

Full stop.

Jos, age 25, and me, age 28. Easter 2010.


Alisha De Freitas blogs at East of Eden.

2 comments:

  1. I am so sorry to hear about the Loss of your sister, but I am happy that God is healing and restoring your heart! I pray for continued strength in The Lord for you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oghosa,

      Thank you so much for your comment, and of course, for the prayers. God is so good, giving us comfort and peace.

      Be blessed!

      Delete

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