"They are in a better place," is almost always the wrong thing to say to a grieving family.

But it may be just the thing to say to a Pastor, Care Pastor, a hospice nurse, a funeral director, a doctor, a nurse, a paramedic...

One Holy Week I was invited to do two funerals and was closely connected to three patients in the care of Hospice.

This past Good Friday I heard my wife say, "Good-bye Daddy," as the mortuary received him into their care. She was a Daddy's Girl. She know's he is in a better place, but her emotions are tender.

A young couple I know, is thankful for the events of Easter weekend as their baby's suffering ended in death, also on Good Friday. They must be exhausted from the trauma of his illness and surgeries. I can't imagine their emotions from seeing all the medical efforts fail to rescue their little guy.

When you care for people and are available to their needs, a schedule that is frequently filled with sickness, tragedy and death is emotionally heavy.

"Easter reminds us that your work is going to be undone," wered my words to a colleague who plans funerals for a large church. Responding to her puzzled expression I explained, "I don't mean the support you give families during their time of loss is of no value. It was valuable beyond measure. But, because of the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus, we can believe in life after death and even the resurrection of the dead (I Corinthians 15). All those graves are going to be open some day. What we see now is not the end of the story."

There are many forms, expressions and motivations for care. Care can be financial, clinical, relational, humanitarian and more.

But when the Care Giver possess a strong faith, in a ressurected Savior, it adds to thier care a dimension that transcends what is seen and felt in the present.

Eve if you can't say "They are in a better place," at the right time and in the right way the grieving person will find hope in believing that there is a better place and "everlasting life" (John 3:16) is for real. Your presence may bring comfort until they experience the hope that only Easter provides. 

Easter is definitely an encouraging time for those of us who regularly face the temporal state of our life on Earth. It encouraged me as I was at my father-in-laws bedside last week.

I hope it blesses you too. What you do matters.