"Everyone wants to live, and everyone will die. But there’s only one way to have a life worth living and a death worth dying, and that is to look to the One who conquered death, the One Paul desired to see above all things." [1]
Though death exerts pain and suffering, the Christian is immune from despair. Paul writes to the church at Philippi, that whether free or imprisoned, in the moments he lives or dies, Christ will be honored (Phil. 1:20). He writes with passion and conviction, but I'm not sure we all feel exactly the same way.
Death is sobering, excruciating even. Especially when we're watching a loved one suffer.
It's not a topic we run to unless we're in it, but nevertheless the psalmist writes, "teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Ps. 90:12).
We Shall All Be Changed: How Facing Death with Loved Ones Transforms Us by Whitney Pipkin is a title that engages your heart and mind on the journey through caregiving in light of the gospel.
Content
My Take: The Invitation to Consider Death
Content
Purpose of the Book
The author writes this book as an invitation to consider death, in it’s inherent inevitability, and to encourage us to develop a theology of death as we care for those actively dying, to firm up the foundation of our beliefs.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. On Learning in the Dry Land of Loss
2. Where the Boundary Lines Fall
3. From the Sidelines
4. Fight or Flight
5. Our Fading Frames
6. On Birth and Death
7. Letting Go, Coming Alive
8. Coming Home, Caregiving
9. The Enemy That Remains
10. Glory Hidden Within
11. The After Times
12. This Is Not the End
Summary
This is a beautiful weaving of memoir and theology as the author recounts caring for and supporting her mom through her journey with cancer applying the truths of the gospel to the reality of the pain, suffering and grief she experiences.
My Take: The invitation to consider death.
If we’re honest, it’s not an invitation we really want to receive.
(Unless you’re my parents, they feel pretty ready.)
When we’re enjoying good health, busy with work and kids, we’re not exactly in the frame of mind to peek at the ending of our story; we’re still navigating the middle parts of the plot—or so we believe.
But one blood test, one illness, one moment can change everything.
Suddenly you’re facing the reality of our human finitude.
The same way it’s important to develop a theology of suffering before it comes to bear, so it is with death and dying. Our six month old daughter had a viral illness that turned real bad and the team responded, “we’ve done all we can do.” To face our present moment there’s a surrender of our hearts and our minds to trust our all-knowing, all-powerful God.
We may not feel equipped or ready to venture near the thoughts of death, our emotions certainly get involved, especially when we're in the throes of caregiving. So with the gospel as our sure footing we have assurance of the Lord’s presence, even as we understand and explore what we truly believe and how we can live accordingly.
In my work as an ER nurse I’ve been present for the sudden tragedies, for the unexpected grief, but less so for the chronic, palliative longer journeys. Reading this book for me was a gift, to recognize the challenges of caregiving, and the myriad of emotions, questions and struggles of the palliative journey, and the call not to shy away from serving those on that journey within the church and community, even when it’s not my immediate family.
There’s a gentle honesty and vulnerability in her words that paint reality and hope on a dark canvas. The kingdom of God is one of light, we’ve been rescued from the darkness into hope for eternity. We gaze on the gospel with less apathy when we’re reminded of our human limits and the reality of our sin, in light of the person and work of Christ.
My Recommendation
This would be a helpful resource for those caring for a loved one who is terminally ill, to help you process and to consider the gospel in the midst of the very trying time.
It’s an encouragement though for all believers to explore the reality of the consequences of sin and the great hope we have in the gospel—God’s promises to us through our suffering and grief. I highly recommend!
Quick Stats
# of Pages: 208
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 5 stars
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Scriptures About Death & Dying
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live (John 11:25)
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4)
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. (Ps. 116:15)
For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. (Rom. 14:8)
Follow Along
*A big thanks to Moody Publishers for the complimentary e-copy of this book and the opportunity to post an honest review!
[1] Tony Merida & Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, p.72
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