Sorry (?)

Thought to ponder: Someone told Dad on Facebook, "I'm sorry that God called Hayden home." I'm not sure how I feel about that statement. I know what he means by that, that he's sorry you died, but are we sorry God called you home? It goes without saying that of course we would want you still here with us, but I don't think that part is something to be sad about, mainly for two words that are in that statement: "God" and "home". Be back later.
   I'm back. I was going to write about this separately but it's somewhat related. I just finished reading a book about Zach Sobiech called "Fly a Little Higher" about a 17-year-old boy who had cancer and died (maybe you've met him?) Anyway, I was pushing myself to get through the middle of the book but I'm glad I did because there was some really encouraging stuff at the end, like how they believe Zach has sent them signs since he died, etc.
   One thing that stood out to me was in a chapter called "Hope." I will just quote it instead of trying to explain it: "I knew these things in my head, but now I was understanding them in my heart. I was finally understanding what placing my hope in heaven truly meant. If eternal life with God is the true goal, then simply to live a longer life--just to live--didn't matter quite so much. (Here's the part): If Zach's soul was prepared for heaven at the age of seventeen, then how blessed would I be as his mother to send him on his way?"
   Wow! Your soul was ready at seventeen years, 10 months and 3 days for heaven! Your earthly work was complete! That makes me think of a quote I read from Evan Kimball's facebook page (a boy your age who died in a car accident a few months after you did) which said: "Your wings were ready but my heart was not." (I actually think someone posted it on his mom's page).God was ready for you! He used you for His glory! What more could a Christian ask for? Praise God!
   I feel like I could say more about this, but maybe I will come back to it later.

I'm back with a Bible verse that is going to be included on the back of your headstone, Psalm 116:16: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Here are a few definitions of the word "precious": as an adjective, "of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly" and as a noun, "used as a term of address to a beloved person." I know an adjective describes a noun, like the word "pretty", so I guess this use is as an adjective to describe death, particularly the death of his saints.
    Your death was of great value to God. Looking at both sides of it, he knows how costly it was to us to lose you, but it was also a costly gain to him and to you. Another Bible verse comes to mind, Philippians 1:21: "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Definition of gain: "Something wanted or valued that is gotten; something that is helpful; an advantage or benefit."
   In one of the many books I have read and am reading, the best day of a Christian's life is the day they die. It's obviously just hard for the rest of us. (I feel like I'm going nowhere with this post-this has been an off day for me for some reason. Right now there is a huge stressor gone since Dad went out of town last night, so maybe it's giving me more time to focus on you. I don't know. One stupid thing that I did earlier was look at some pictures of dead people that were set up at their funerals as playing cards, standing in the corner, on a motorcycle, etc. They were creepy anyway, but I hate thinking of you as a corpse. I can't focus on the physical. Then I thought I could handle watching some of the videos that Jake made, but it was hard because they remind me of the time of the crash which was so hard. I also shouldn't have tried to watch them at work-duh! I suppose I have to realize that I will have some worse days than others. This is one of them, unfortunately.)