Today was a hard day. Today marks three years since my brother Aaron was killed in a jet ski accident. It’s been three years, but I still miss Aaron terribly. I can take comfort that he was a strong Christian, though, so I will see him again in heaven. It’s good to remember the words that my Dad read at his funeral, a personalization of Ephesians 1:3-14:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed Aaron in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose Aaron in Him before the foundation of the world, that Aaron should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined Aaron for adoption as a son through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed Aaron in the Beloved. In Him Aaron has redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon Aaron, in all wisdom and insight making known to Aaron the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In Him Aaron has obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. In Him Aaron also, when Aaron heard the word of truth, the gospel of his salvation, and believed in Him, was sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of Aaron’s inheritance until Aaron acquires possession of it, to the praise of His glory.”
And also, the words of Aaron’s favorite hymn, “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise,” bring comfort.
I remember when I was deciding whether to go to grad school at CU-Boulder or Penn State, Aaron told me that if I chose Colorado, he’d come visit me for sure because he & Eve already wanted to take a vacation to Colorado. And now I find myself living in Colorado, but he won’t be able to come visit me. That’s come to mind many times in the last year.
Please keep our whole family, but especially Aaron’s wife Eve and their kids Ella and Matthias in your prayers. Miss you, Aaron.