This past weekend, I lost my great grandmother.

This was the second of two significant family deaths for me. It is not something I have had as prevalent in my life as others.

When I first heard about her stroke, and how she was not going to make it, the shock hit me. I cried all the way to my dad's house, thinking about how different those family gatherings would be and how my great grandfather would now be alone.

Yet, as the week went on, and she was still in the hospital, a great wave of peace came over me that I had not experienced before.

This wasn't just a coincidence to me... I don't believe in coincidences.

This is something I can only describe as my connection to my faith and to God; a peace that transcends all.

I prayed a lot.

Other people in my life prayed a lot... family members, friends, my boyfriend.

And it's not to say that I now have complete knowledge or comprehension of death. Nobody does!

I just know that God has handled it, and that this loss is only temporary, because she will be waiting for me in heaven.

I feel like it can seem so permanent, like a forever loss, especially for those that don't believe in an afterlife.

The Bible has so many verses about death...

"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NIV

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV

"He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people's disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken." Isaiah 25:8 NIV

...and even more.

Believing in the gospel, that Jesus has conquered death, is something that sets me apart and makes me look at it all from a different worldly lens.

I hope that this perspective can inspire others, whether Christian or not, to really evaluate life and death, and to find hope or peace in it.

So to my dear Grandma Hildebrand, I hope you're rocking out with Jesus up there and I can't wait to see you again!

I love you.