"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15)
The journal entries below were written by Dena Ronda (Koole), my grandmother on my mother's side. Dena's son, Johnny, Jr. was drafted during World War II. The family was notified that Johnny, Jr. was missing in action in October of 1942. A death notification was made in October of 1943. Dena's journal entries during the year of waiting give us a sense of the impending doom that Dena felt as the 1 year marker approached; her surrender to God's way, even at the cost of her son; and her inner sight, to see the Son behind her son.
October 11, 1942: Remembering Our Son
Is your heart oh so often heavy,
as you think of your son far away,
you have only his picture to look at,
and miss him so much every day.
You think of the times he said 'Mother!',
a word we so love to hear.
He's our son and we love him so dearly,
and we pray God will bring him home.
And then we take up our Bible,
and read of God's beautiful words,
"He was My Son first, remember,
For more than a parents' love,
is My love over My children.
I watch o'er them from heaven above.
And oh what a wonderful comfort,
to know that the Father is there,
That He in His infinite wisdom,
Sends no burdens too heavy to bear.
Oh yes, our body must suffer,
But thank God our souls can't be touched.
And if it be that our son goes before us,
even then we'll be able to say,
We too some day soon shall behold Him,
a short time and we too shall be there.
