Cleve's Heavenly Home

Jenny, a woman who loves her children with that "deep-soul love" only a mama knows, very recently experienced the death of her son, Cleve. All parents recognize this as the absolute most dreaded, most horrible nightmare we could possibly go through. In talking with mutual friends who have been close to Jenny and her family, I've learned of quite touching and surreal happenings, events, that, when looking back to the day of the tragic death, seem to have been a part of a bigger scene than one could possibly realize at the time. At the death, especially of a young person, we pause, listen, and think deeply, thoughtfully, prayerfully.
It should not take a death, a tragedy to make us pause...but many times that's just what it takes. This world we live in of "fast and furious" is wearing us thin, making us weak. Our pursuit of success, happiness, and fulfillment is draining us of the very thing we crave. We are all guilty as charged.
Why did Cleve die? What, if anything, did his death prepare his friends and family to handle, to face? Cleve was a handsome, charming, very sweet and caring young man. Still in college, his entire future waiting before him. A beautiful life just around the bend. His parents would have chosen to die first. "Please take me instead," would have been their plea if they had had that opportunity. That choice was not theirs to make.
I'm not an expert in "why bad things happen to good people". But, I know what I believe. No doubt many questions have been asked since Cleve's death. Some may ask, "Why would God allow this to happen?" I don't believe God wanted Cleve to die, and I surely don't believe God wanted Cleve to die in the way he died because the pain of it stretched far and wide. God is not about pain and suffering. The devil is about pain and suffering, and there is tremendous evil working in this world today. Although God could not stop what happened, he made sequential, uplifting, surprising events and revelations happen surrounding that fateful moment that will be forever burned in the minds of those who knew Cleve. God does not cause evil and pain, but God can use events to bring about enlightenment and good in the world. God can create "Cleve moments" for the believer who will have absolutely no doubt that Cleve's presence is there and will always be there.
Cleve is in heaven. He has a warm, comforting, sweet, gospel-filled, joyful home in God's heavenly mansion. To all mama's out there---Jenny needs our prayers. Let not let time or fast and furious days lead us to forget Cleve's mama---not for a very long time. Pray for Jenny. Pray for peace and love to radiate in a million shining lights from Cleve's life lived on earth.