There’s a common saying: “Others didn’t wake up today, but I did. I’m blessed to be alive.”
It’s meant to be a statement of gratitude, a reminder not to take life for granted. But after my mother transitioned, those words hit differently. Instead of feeling uplifted, they created an internal conflict:
Was my mother not blessed because she died?
As Christians, we say we rejoice because our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. We believe that death is not the end, that heaven is a gain. But in the depths of grief, that belief doesn’t always quiet the pain of loss.
The Struggle Between Earth and Eternity
The Bible tells us, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). We affirm that heaven is our true home, a place free from suffering, sorrow, and pain. So why do we feel so broken when someone we love leaves this earth?
Because love doesn’t just exist in eternity—it’s felt in the here and now. And when someone transitions, the relationship we knew changes. The connection is still there, but it’s different. And different can feel like distance.
Saying, “I woke up today, so I’m blessed,” can unintentionally imply that those who didn’t wake up weren’t blessed. But that’s not true. My mother was blessed in life, and she is still blessed in eternity. The blessing of life doesn’t stop at death—it continues in the presence of God.
Holding Two Truths at Once
Faith doesn’t erase grief. It gives us hope within it. We can be thankful for another day while still aching for the ones who are no longer here. We can know heaven is better while still longing for their presence. We can celebrate their eternal reward while grieving their absence in our daily lives.
And that’s okay.
Instead of just saying, “I woke up today, so I’m blessed,” maybe the fuller truth is:
“Life is a gift, and whether here or in eternity, God’s blessings continue.”
This acknowledges both the living and those who have gone before us. It reminds us that we are still here for a purpose, and our loved ones are not lost—they are simply home.
Grief is complex, but so is love. And I find comfort in knowing that just as love never dies, neither do the blessings of God. Whether on earth or in eternity, we remain in His hands.
And that is a blessing that never fades.