Marie Obey

April 20, 2020



My Dear Friend Jean,



As I write this letter to you, I know you must have experienced a time last week when you wanted to turn the clock back.  Losing someone fills our mind and heart with disbelief.  It’s always so unfair that death would have the power that it does.  When it happens, the thought of not being able to talk to, laugh with, share time with, to love….all of those things that we once did are gone.  We will always wish we had some more time, even if it was just once more.  That’s because death is an enemy that cannot be accepted.  Some try to appease themselves with saying:  “Well, he’s not suffering.”  Or “he’s in a better place”.  Those things don’t really comfort us.  As a matter of fact, anything that anyone says as consolation can only ‘soothe’ us because the Bible calls death a ‘sting’.  A sting means pain.  And this letter is to let you know I share in it and wish I could hug you so you feel it.


I met Frantz before, don’t know how many times but I picture his sweet face.  Alayna talked about him as being like her own brother.  That’s such a nice complement that must have made you happy.  The term ‘brother’ carries deep meaning.  She apparently felt cared for, loved, respected, and enjoyed a friendship that went beyond in-law.  That says something about the kind of brother he was.  I’m glad she had those feelings for him, because it will give her fond memories.  And memories are all we have….things of the past.  How much we wish we could have added to them.  But we can’t, so we have to cherish what we do have, not what we wish we had.


When death occurs we think of what King Solomon said regarding all humans:  “I have seen something further under the sun, that the swift don’t always win the race, nor do the mighty win the battle, nor do the wise always have the food, nor do the intelligent always have the riches, nor do those with knowledge always have success, because time and unexpected events overtake them all.” Eccl. 9:11


Yes, death ‘equalizes’ all of us no matter where we are in life and unexpected events can pounce on anyone.  Frantz was overtaken by something that will end one day…death.  I’m going to quote some things below but will preface it with this statement.  “This is what Jehovah has said.”  Now I want you to think of those words as coming from him, not from me, as you read what follows.

God is the Creator of life. The Bible calls Jehovah God “the source of life.” (Psalm 36:9; Acts 17:24, 25) The One who gave life to all living creatures is certainly capable of restoring life to someone who has died.

God has resurrected humans in the past. The Bible reports eight instances of humans—young, old, male, and female—who were brought back to life on earth. Some had been dead for a short while, but one had been in a tomb for four days!—John 11:39-44.

God is eager to do it again. Jehovah hates death; he views it as an enemy. (1 Corinthians 15:26) He has a longing to conquer that enemy, to undo death by means of the resurrection. He yearns to bring back those who are in his memory and to see them live on earth again.—Job 14:14, 15.


So Jean, I only hope you can believe what it says.  Your feelings of sorry can be cradled by truth.  And I want you to let those feelings think of what is the truth.  I really hope you do, because your heart is big which means it holds a lot of love for people whom you have lost.


I close with a scripture that I use all the time in hopes that people really believe it. I want you to believe it because it’s a promise from Jehovah that says what he will do for you.  It’s Revelation 21:3, 4


And God himself will be with them.  And he 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.”


Stay close to Jehovah, especially now, pray for his direction and yield to his Goodness,


Marie

Frantz  wasn't just my brother.  He was my friend also . Bro ,you will be missed 
I am gone remember our late night chatting 
You always raised your  voice  saying  : speak  creole..Bro I can't, I just don't remember. Then we start laughing. That's the way our conversations always ended. 
 I love you.  I miss you.  You will be missed 
Your brother Maxime