The chance to say goodbye….
We had no chance to say goodbye.
There were no final words.
No one warned us that the unthinkable was about to happen.
After all, she was in hospital being cared for by professionals.
Everything was going to be OK.
Even when my mum went into cardiac arrest right before my eyes, I believed she would be all right.
The doctors would bring her back.
It happened all the time.
But she was gone.
Ripped cruelly from this world with no warning.
And the shock and disbelief were unbearable.
Today, we remember all those who went to work as normal on 11 September 2001 and never came home.
On that day, almost 3000 individuals never had the chance to say goodbye.
Without warning, they were gone.
Ripped cruelly from this world with no warning.
And the shock and disbelief were unbearable.
Some people do get more time to say good bye.
They know they are going to die.
They can make practical arrangements for after they are gone.
They can leave letters or make a special life book filled with special memories for their family members.
They can tell those they love that they love them.
The sorrow is still too hard to bear but these goodbyes become precious memories to be treasured for all time.
David has the opportunity to put his affairs in order in 1 Chronicles 22. He knows he is about to die. We visited this final goodbye in ‘The power of positive labelling’. Here, there is more detail, which is why we’re looking at it again.
It’s all about building God’s temple, you see. And it’s all about getting it right, David knows that he cannot start the work on the temple because he has too much blood on his hands. But his also knows that his son Solomon, who he is assured will succeed him, is young and inexperienced.
David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendour in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death. 1 Chronicles 22:5
He speaks to his son. He builds him up. He assures him of God’s presence with him.
Then he orders all the leaders of Israel to help his son. He makes sure that everyone knows that Solomon is to be king.
Everything is in order. Everyone knows exactly what they have to do.
Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses.
Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the outlying districts, in the towns, the villages and the watchtowers.
Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the workers who farmed the land.
Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards.
Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine vats.
Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig trees in the western foothills.
Joash was in charge of the supplies of olive oil.
Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon.
Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys.
Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels.
Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.
Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks.
All these were the officials in charge of King David’s property.
Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counsellor, a man of insight and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hakmoni took care of the king’s sons.
Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor.
Hushai the Arkite was the king’s confidant. Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.
Joab was the commander of the royal army. 1 Chronicles 27:25-33
Some final words for Solomon –
And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. 1 Chronicles 28:9
– and then it is time for his final prayer.
Which we will look at tomorrow.
As we wrap up today, let us remember those who never got to say their final goodbyes….
….those for whom 9/11 is a day of special and painful memories…
….those who are facing a final goodbye with a loved one……
Let us give thanks for another new day and all the opportunities it brings.
May we never take life for granted.
