APRIL 17, Romans 8:18

“Why does Grandpa have to hurt so much?” Bryan asked his dad as they left the hospital one afternoon.

“I don’t know, Bryan,” Dad answered. “It’s hard to see Grandpa the way he is now, isn’t it? But I feel better when I remember that Jesus has a wonderful place prepared for Grandpa in Heaven.” Bryan nodded, but the thought that Grandpa would go to Heaven didn’t really make much difference in the way he felt. Bryan’s thoughts were interrupted by Dad’s voice. “How about a hike up Mount Faber tomorrow?” Dad asked. Bryan’s eyes lit up. “Okay!” he exclaimed. “I’ve been wanting to do that.”

Less than halfway up the hill the next day, it became a struggle for Bryan to keep up with Dad. “Whatever made me think it would be fun to climb this hill although it is not very high?” he wondered. And when he heard Dad say, “Time for a break,” Bryan sighed in relief.

After a while, Dad stood up. “Ready to go again?” he asked. Bryan hesitated, trying to decide if he should suggest going back down. Dad rumpled Bryan’s hair. “You’re not going to quit on me now, are you, son?” he asked. “When we get to the top, you’ll see that it was worth the struggle of a hard climb.” Bryan wasn’t so sure about that, but he nodded and trudged along.

When they finally reached the top, they could see the nature reserve and a nice view of Sentosa and the whole city below. Bryan smiled, “You were right!” he exclaimed. “This is spectacular!”

Soon they found a nice spot to spread out the lunch Mom had prepared. “Like you said, Dad, being up here is worth the hard climb,” Bryan declared a little later as he enjoyed the chicken bun. Dad nodded and said, “I’ve been thinking, our climb up here was hard but it has a good ending. What’s happening to Grandpa is something like climbing a mountain of his.”

It took only a moment for Bryan to catch on. “You mean Grandpa’s having a really hard time right now, but his life will have such a good ending that it’s worth it,” he said. As Bryan thought about it, he knew that was the same thing Dad had said the day before, but he understood a little better now.

Thought: All believers have the hope of Heaven where there will be no more suffering!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me look forward to what awaits me in Heaven. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.