A time to weep and a time to laugh

The writer of the ancient book of Ecclesiastes sounds like he was writing about the Easter event when he wrote that there is a time to weep and a time to laugh. Good Friday on the Christian calendar is a time of sadness as we remember how Christ was crucified for the sins of all people. But soon there is Easter morning when the happy greeting is exchanged by Christians all over the world, 'He is risen!'

My family at home, and now at Christian Action, have been experiencing a time for weeping.

My son, Danial, lost a good friend late last year. He made this tribute while remembering the previous celebrations in March of his friend’s birthday.  He was a friend who helped Danial raise money through their MAD project, making a CD to sell in aid of the orphans in Xining Children’s Home. 

Jun Jun waits to see the doctor in 2010

And now the news has come that Jun Jun, a disabled child I’ve written about several times in this blog, has died at home in Xining.  Her heartbroken mother has asked me to visit her so that we can share our memories of this beautiful child.

In 2009, Jun Jun’s mother, Mrs Wang, became the very first member of the Xining community to bring her disabled child to us for financial support.  Our China staff had been doing a fantastic job of trying to change the long time practice of abandoning disabled children, so we were very encouraged by this loving mother who refused to do the traditional thing and abandon her child.  She reminds me of the faithful women who didn’t run away, but remained near the cross when Jesus was dying.  

When Mrs Wang needed someone to take care of Jun Jun while she went to work, a Christian Action sponsor agreed to pick up the fee and pay the care giver 1,000 RMB (US$152) per month so that Jun Jun could remain with her.  That became a home hospice as Jun Jun’s life began to slip away.  Please remember to tell your friends that sponsoring children like Jun Jun helps to prevent child abandonment in this very poor province of China. 

But Good Friday is not the end of the story.  There will always be a joyful Easter morning because we know that by rising from death Jesus has broken the power of death over us.  So we are confident and happy that one day we will once again see the faces of Jun Jun and Danial’s friend - all because of Jesus being willing to give His life for us! I hope you too will embrace the significance of this weekend – a time for weeping, but also a time for laughing.