For years I have struggled with a concept we call early death. Some days it haunts my every thought. Other days I find myself caught up with great joy until the notion hits me in a split second and the joyful moment is darkened as I consider the trauma of leaving this earth too soon. Early death seems to be one of the cruelest form of torture. The suffering is often non-existent or short lived for the one who dies, but to those who are left behind to try to put the pieces back together, it can last a lifetime.

But, is death ever really early?. Only to us, not to our Maker. Our Maker knows the number of our days, even before we were conceived. So, death will come when our days here on earth are over. Never too late and yet never too early. Even with this assurance there is still an abundance of concerns. For the one who has lost a loved one, there is the wondering of how can I continue without? Will a day ever be normal again? For the one who foresees their own early death, there is the concern of if those we love are adequately prepared, not only for a loss, but for the rest of life. These pains of “early death” can only be comforted by the One who is our Creator and the Creator of perfect timing. Perhaps in eternity we will understand, perhaps not.


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"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14)
"Teach us to number our days” (Psalm 90:12)