As I think about my younger sister today, and I remember the day she died all those years ago, that she went back home to Jesus, I have to reflect a moment. I want to remember the truth, the real pain of that day. How her life left her body right before our eyes, her perfected spirit rising up to be in the presence of the Lord… I want to remember and sit with the peace that overtook her, the beautiful presence of complete restoration and healing. 

But that can be hard, right? That is hard, it hurts. It stings, it burns and brings sadness. To remember that she was too young, too unfinished; it was too soon. The absence she left in our lives was big, and it was dark and empty. 

But there is beauty in this, there’s always beauty. How? Because of Jesus. See, Audrey believed in Jesus. She knew He was going to receive her, and welcome her home. She must have known He had prepared a whole table of ranch sauce with a side of pizza for her dipping pleasure, she would see people she had lost, and grace, her dog. She would have perfectly folded socks, and some awesome white cowboy boots. She would finally know all things, she would have all the children she wanted, to love on and play with, like she did so perfectly here. 

I believe she dances up there. I believe she celebrates the unexplainable beauty of seeing Jesus face to face, walking with Him. I believe she gets to celebrate with angels each time another soul enters into the kingdom of God, by receiving Jesus. From what I know about God, she is HIS child, who is welcomed home, and she is now made perfect. She’s good, SO good. There is no sadness, tears or mourning in heaven, only pure joy unspeakable.

She must have known she would be embraced with open arms by Jesus, finally seeing His face, walking into the most abounding joy she could ever imagine, she must have known that she was entering her heavenly home, where she would worship the King of Kings forevermore. 

So now, I can instead dance, too. I can tell stories of her to my children, to my friends, to you. Stories about her amazing ability to shine the light of Jesus, to love purely everyone she met, and her ability to make you feel precious in her presence. I can celebrate… my broken heart is mended to fullness, not because I have forgotten her, no way. But because I do remember her so well, because Jesus not only has healed her, but my heart too. I now understand that God’s girl is dancing on the clouds… And I know I will see her again one day when I go to be with Jesus. 

So if you are experiencing loss, grief, mourning today… feel my tightest, warmest squeeze hug to you. Hear me say, healing does happen. Come and dance with me, God does restore. Just like there are times and seasons in life that seem like they will never change, don’t believe that lie. Your relief is just around the corner. Set your eyes on the hills, where your help comes from. Feel the love of God pour over you, cleaning and healing your broken heart. God is your peace, and He will make all things new. 

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Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” 

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.”

Psalm 121:1-2: I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Revelation 21:4-5: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Psalm 30:11-12:You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!