It has been several weeks since I received the call. It came at 5:15 A.M. on a Friday morning. When the phone rang that early, I knew it could not be good news. The voice said, “Sandy, this is Doug. I have some terrible news. Lynne has had a massive heart attack, and she has passed away.”

Less than a week before, Doug and Lynne took part in a program at a church breakfast in which they talked about being grandparents. They encouraged us with their ideas about ways to encourage and support our grandchildren.

I have taught 4th and 5th grade Sunday morning and Wednesday night Bible classes with this woman for eleven years. All of a sudden, she is gone.

I knew the following Sunday morning would be hard on the children, but I had no idea how hard it would be for all of us. When I entered the classroom, I found students, former students, parents of former students, and parents of current students. Our educational director was standing at the door of our classroom watching this scene unfold and not knowing what to do.

We just held the children and let them cry. They didn’t know what to do or say, and neither did the adults.

The parents finally retreated to their own classes and left me alone with the children and our other teacher. For a while, we just sat together and wept.

We had just, the previous week, talked about Elijah’s being taken by God to heaven. I decided that maybe this story would help us move on, just like Elisha did.

In II Kings 2, Elijah, at God’s instruction, had anointed Elisha as his successor. Elisha had followed Elijah, serving him in whatever way he could. When it was made known that it was time for Elijah to leave this earth, God sent him on a farewell journey. He began at Gilgal and from there God sent him to Bethel. He then went from Bethel to Jericho, and from Jericho to the Jordan River. On the other side of the Jordan River, God sent a chariot and horses of fire that took Elijah to heaven.

I told the children on this sad Sunday morning, “Elisha knows how we feel. We know how Elisha must have felt.” We all lost a friend. I feel certain the disciples would have felt this same sadness as their Lord was beaten and hung on a cross to die.

It is certain that death will come to all of us unless the Lord comes first. Sometimes it comes with preparation, but the unexpected death is what frightens us and makes us ask why it had to happen.

Five couples in our church family formed a close friendship. Doug and Lynne were part of that group. About four years ago, one of the ladies in this group died from a prior lung problem. She helped prepare food for our annual Mothers’ Day Tea, became ill about a week later, and within just days passed away.

Prior to her death, one of the ladies had been diagnosed with a return of cancer, then was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and died within a few months. She didn’t want to live with this terrible disease. She had watched her mother and sister die from Alzheimer’s.

At the end of 2015, another of the ladies retired from her job. Shortly after that, she began having back problems and had to have chemo for a growth that was considered non-malignant. While in the hospital, she developed an infection. She died a few weeks later.

Doug retired because of this last death. He said that he didn’t want something to happen to him or Lynne without them having a chance to enjoy time together. Now Lynne is gone after less than seven months from his retirement.

Four men are now left widowers. They are bound together by circumstances beyond their control. What are they to do? How will they manage?

One of the men in this group fills his time with creating beautiful objects from wood. He builds things for family members, and he has made cabinets and podiums for the church. He has some eye problems, but he doesn’t let that stop him from doing all that he can.

One of the men serves our church family by organizing groups to make repairs to houses of those that can’t afford to hire the work done. He has a servant’s heart.

Doug wants to continue working with the visitation program. That was what he did before Lynne’s death, and he wants to continue that work. He serves on the board of a Christian retirement home, and he wants to continue that as well.

Three of the four are trying to fill their lives with family, friends, and service to God. They continue regular church attendance, and each one participates whenever and wherever they can.

The fourth one has little family. He has retreated to a secluded existence, hardly letting anyone in. He attends worship only occasionally. He is just hanging on.

Death is certain. Unless the Lord comes first, we will all die. What and who will we leave behind?

Elijah left a legacy. Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. The Lord granted him that request. He didn’t make this request for selfish reasons. He wanted to be productive and a benefit to God’s people. Elisha performed twice as many miracles as Elijah did, and he continued to serve God in other ways.

That’s what God wants and expects from us. He wants us to produce fruit. He wants us to go on to support others.

The real lesson in all of this is that you and I have no promise of tomorrow. Death can come to any of us at any time. The question is, will we be ready?

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (I Corinthians 15:55-58.

Sandra Oliver