Heaven is Never Having to Say Goodbye!

A whirlwind three day reunion began with many shouts of welcome and joy as more than one hundred people gathered at Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kansas.

Being at the reunion I saw many familiar faces and relearned the unique-ness of our Loewen Family History. (More)

What makes up the Loewen Family’s uniqueness? I am the 4th generation member of this family and yet the fellowship and the familiar makes it a special time. As I drove across bit of Arkansas and Missouri, heading into Kansas, I wondered how many more years God will allow me to travel there. I remembered one of the Loewen twins, 3rd generation in 2007, saying, “I am not sure my twin sister can come if we wait three years for another reunion.” This year, the twins were not able to travel – I missed them this year.

The original family consisted of Jacob and Justina (Leppke) Loewen and their children – Anna, Katherina, Jacob, Henry, Justina, John, Abraham, Peter, Marie, Cornelius, Herbert, Elixabeth, Daniel and Solomon. Needless to say, when these children married, 60 grandchildren – cousins appeared. Cousins and their children scattered to more than fourteen states. Jacob and Justina traveled here from Russia in the 1800’s, adopting this country as their own.

What brought everyone together for a short time? Why is this reunion such a blessing to all of us? For me, I see the golden thread of faith in Jesus Christ that is woven into our lives. No matter what life brings us, that faith holds us up and together as a family.

Sitting in the Tabor College Dining Room listening to the singing of the family song, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and hearing many times the scripture, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1.

(Picture of the auctioned home crafted items.)
The memories are the ties of family that bring us together. A sense of belonging. A time of remembering what has been, common experiences through the early years and these memories are sweet for they fill each person there with the need to share our faith and our sense of belonging to not only our family – but our spiritual family world-wide.

Even as the family met to remember, Aunt Irene Seibel turned us to the future in her devotion. We have a foundation to build on and a future to live. And that foundation is our faith in Jesus Christ. No matter how burdened we become in this life, we have the promise of eternal life if we only believe in our Lord. This faith and promise gives us contentment that governments, threats, illness or even deaths cannot erase.

Sunday morning it was time to say goodbye… leaving many unsaid words, many hugs not given…it’s so difficult to say goodbye. (Picture – The volunteer Loewen Men’s Chorus sang several songs in harmony.) The older family members, like my Uncle Eli, 92 years young, wonder if they will attend the 2011 Reunion. The final songs led by Arlin Penner were Blessed Be the Tie That Binds and God Be With You Til We Meet Again.

As the words of those songs died away, a lump came into my throat as I remembered my Uncle Eli saying, “The next reunion is in two years, I might not be here, but don’t feel sorry for me, I will be in a better place.”

When I meet someone who is family, I see unique individuals that I desire to know more deeply. Their traits – personality – and the essence of their being is familiar and I feel right at home with them. That is extended family and what I treasure.

When we get to Heaven, our family will include everyone who has professed Jesus as their Lord from every era and every race. They will have familiar traits and I will feel right at home with them. A loving family that worships Jesus is practice for a family reunion in Heaven.

Heaven is never having to say goodbye….our reunion in Heaven will include many more cousins and sisters and brothers than those in the Loewen family. And we will give praise to our Lord and Savior! An eternity and forever – a spiritual family reunion!

These words from Psalm 16:6 were repeated many times in the devotions given at each meal along with hymns sung.
“The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.” Psalm 16:6

Yes, we had to say goodbye on earth, separated by distance, physical infirmities and/or death and the truth comes: Heaven is never having to say goodbye…

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