I don't do death well. Let me rephrase that. I don't do death of people I who are not saved well. But mostly I don't do death well.

You'd think I would be able to handle it. If I were following tradition...I'd be in mourning weeds for the next 2o years with no hopes of marriage till the mourning is over...I've lost that much or rather that many.

I read TXKJUN's post and I felt sad. I feel that much. My prayers are with you my love. Just lean more into God and the word at this time. From personal experience it will take you through it. Just remember I'm saying a special prayer for you and yours.

My friend Karl couldn't get that reassurance. God forewarned me that something was up with him. It was weird. I went from praise to comfort in a split second. His father passed away last week. Now he is truly all alone in the world. No mother or father, no grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters or brothers, and he's only 22 alone in the US and its weird because he is from Albania and has only been here for three years.

I didn't know what to say to him. He isn't saved. He doesn't really believe in God and I can't trick him into reading the Bible...he was just so sad and I didn't know what to say. For all of you who believe in some afterlife irregardless of faith..this was your area. For those that are like me and believe that Jesus alone is the way and outside of Him is no hope..you feel my dilemma.

I prayed so hard for words to say to him. He looked defeated. Beat. Not his usual self. I wanted to cry. But I didn't want him to see. So I prayed and God said "Why don't you offer to pray with him?" so I did.

For the first time he voluntarily prayed with me and though it was short...it cheered him up. Wow. I see him sporadically during the week and I don't know..there's a change and I wish it were not a mask but it is.

Death frustrates me. But in this I have hope and I know that TXKJUN rejoices with me in the fact that one day there will be no more dying, no more having to explain why our loved one will never be with us anymore, why we won't have to cry as we remember hugs and embraces because Death will have lost its sting and the grave its victory. That's a true promis y'all. But I think John Donne had it when he said "Death thou shalt die."