“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)

This verse is part of several statements the Apostle Paul makes in encouraging us how to relate to friends and other people in our lives.    

Over the past two months we have had four friends who have died. Two were neighbors, and two were longstanding personal friends of more than forty years. 

One neighbor was in the prime of her life having endured a 10-year battle with cancer.  She was a delightful person, always focusing on others rather than herself.  The other neighbor was in her nineties but suffered from extreme rheumatoid arthritis for many years.  She too was other focused always turning the conversation to how you and your family were doing. 

The other two were long-time personal friends.  One of them had a family with children similar in age to our children.  His wife was a good friend of my wife.  We supported each other in good times and tough times.  The other person I worked with in various ministries at our church over a forty-year period. 

With each death, we experienced their family’s sorrow, but we also rejoiced with them in knowing that their loved ones were with the Lord in heaven in furtherance of Jesus’s many promises.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16) 

We weep with our friends as they weep, we rejoice with them as they rejoice, knowing that their loved ones are with the Lord.