Dear Karen, I'm very sorry to read of the sad loss of your beloved Mother, and I want to offer my deepest sympathy to you and your family. I hope that you won't be offended by my writing, as I don't know you; but I really hope that you will find some comfort in these verses. Acts 24:15 promises, "that there is going to be a resurrection." Many unexpected deaths are due to what the Bible calls, "time and unforeseen occurrence befall them all." - Ecclesiastes 9:11b Our loving God doesn’t cause sad things to happen to our loved ones, as James 1:13 helps us to understand, ‘When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.’ For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone.’” 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 speaks of God as “the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our tribulation.” 1 Peter 5:7 lets us know that we can “throw all our anxiety upon (God), because he cares.” And Isaiah 65:17b tells us that the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart.” - Thus the heartbreak that we experience now, won’t even be remembered after Jehovah God resurrects our loved ones; thereby undoing the sad effects of death and the pain being separated from them brings. Death is like sleep. When his friend Lazarus died, Jesus said: "Lazarus our friend has gone to rest, but I am journeying there to awaken him from sleep." Jesus' disciples did not understand what he meant. They replied: "Lord, if he has gone to rest, he will get well." The Bible account explains: "Jesus had spoken, however, about his death. But they imagined he was speaking about taking rest in sleep. At that time, therefore, Jesus said to them outspokenly: 'Lazarus has died.'" -John 11:11-14. The dead will be resurrected. When Jesus arrived at Lazarus' hometown, he consoled Martha, Lazarus' sister, by saying: "Your brother will rise." Jesus then made this profound promise: "I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me even though he dies, will come to life." Jesus' promise was not mere empty words. In front of many eyewitnesses, Jesus resurrected Lazarus, although he had been dead four days. -John 11:23, 25, 38-45. Jesus also resurrected a young man, the only son of a widow, and a 12 yr. old girl; and so we know that he has the power to resurrect our loved ones too in the future when the time comes for the resurrection! - (Luke 7:11-17; Luke 8:40-56) Revelation 21:4 promises, “And (God) will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” - Just imagine -a world with no tears of sorrow, no pain, and no death! And no sickness of any kind as Isaiah 33:24 promises, “no resident will say: ‘I am sick.’” While your dear Mother wasn't old, still I'd like to share this verse with you; Job 33:25 promises, "Let his flesh become fresher than in youth; Let him (her) return to the days of his (her) youthful vigor." Loved ones will be resurrected, and welcomed back to life by loving family and friends right here on the earth in the midst of peaceful, beautiful, paradise conditions, as Psalms 37:10, 11, 29 tell about, “And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more; and you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be. But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” - We can have the opportunity to live together forever in perfect peace, health, and happiness with our loved ones! Jesus gave us hope of a time when all suffering will end. He taught his followers to pray: “Our Father in the heavens, . . . Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.” - Matthew 6:9, 10 - When God’s Kingdom comes, there will be no more suffering or death on the earth, just as there is no suffering or death in heaven! I hope that you are finding comfort in your memories, perhaps by looking at pictures, and I hope that these and other verses will help too. Romans 15:4 tells us, "For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope. To consider more of the Bible's beautiful promises, please visit www.jw.org Currently, if you look near the top on the site and click on 'publications' then in the second row is a small tract, "Can the dead really live again?" It's very comforting. Take care, Sincerely Yours, Cindy Boyer

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone, Silence the pianos and with muffled drum Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead Scribbling on the sky the message She Is Dead, Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves, Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves. She was my North, my South, my East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong. The stars are not wanted now: put out every one; Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun; Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood. For nothing now can ever come to any good. Funeral Blues by W. H. Auden

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, Has a wondrous attraction for me; For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above To bear it to dark Calvary. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, A wondrous beauty I see, For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, To pardon and sanctify me. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true; Its shame and reproach gladly bear; Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away, Where His glory forever I’ll share. The Old Rugged Cross Hymn