Helen Oppenheimer Weyland: A Journey of Providence

 

More than one hundred years ago, a young Jewish woman named Helen Oppenheimer left Germany and began her journey to America. As the family story has been told, she was traveling to meet and marry a Jewish attorney in New York. But somewhere on that journey, aboard a ship crossing the ocean, Helen met a young man named Ferdinand C. Weyland.

Was it chance? Coincidence? Fate? Or was it the mysterious providence of God?

Ferdinand, known as Ferd, was returning to America after studying in Germany. He was preparing for ministry and would later become a Lutheran pastor. Helen was seven years older than he was, and her life seemed to be moving in a very different direction. Yet their meeting changed everything. They married three years later, after Ferd’s ordination, and Helen became a pastor’s wife in northern Wisconsin.

Helen Oppenheimer Weyland was my wife Naomi’s grandmother.

That one providential meeting shaped generations. Helen and Ferd raised four children in a home that was not easy or comfortable by modern standards. Life in northern Wisconsin included hard work, limited conveniences, and the demands of ministry. Ferd traveled to encourage pastors and congregations, while Helen supported him, raised their children, and faithfully lived out her calling.

Their children carried that legacy forward. Two became pastors, one became a college music professor and author, and one daughter, Helen Weyland Koerwitz, became a teacher. She would become Naomi’s mother.

The more I have researched Helen’s story, the more questions I have. What was she thinking as she stepped onto that ship? What did she know of God’s hand upon her life? Did she understand that one decision, one meeting, one conversation, could alter the course of a family for generations?

We may never know all the details this side of Heaven. But I do believe God was present in them.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Helen may have had one plan when she began her journey, but God had another. His purposes were larger than she could see.

I am especially thankful for Helen because, through her life and faith, God shaped the family line that eventually led to Naomi. Naomi loved the Lord, cherished Scripture, and was proud of her Jewish roots. Her grandmother’s journey became part of Naomi’s story, and Naomi’s story became part of mine.

Looking back, I see more than family history. I see grace. I see providence. I see God working through decisions, relationships, waiting, uncertainty, and even unanswered questions.

Helen’s life reminds me that God often does His deepest work quietly. A ship crossing the ocean. A conversation on deck. A change in direction. A marriage. A family. A legacy of faith.

What looked like an ordinary journey became part of a much greater story.

Helen Oppenheimer Weyland: Personal Letter. What I am Thankful for.

As I write this letter, this Thanksgiving day, Nov. 24, 2022, I have a feeling that you are aware of what I am doing. Tracing our family heritage back to my wife’s Jewish roots…after all these years…43 years of marriage to my wife Naomi Koerwitz Dassow, one of your granddaughters, who is proud of her “Jewish Roots”.

We have heard about you, but do not know very much…other than you met your husband Ferdinand Weyland on a ship when you immigrated to America…going to meet your intended Jewish husband in New York. Must have been quite an experience meeting “Ferd” and the time you spent on the ship and getting to know him and eventually “converting” as Jewish people say of the experience. I hope and pray it was not just a new “religious” set of beliefs but a real personal connecting with God through his son, Jesus Christ, your long awaited Messiah. I am excited to getting to know you a little after all these years through my research and then actually getting to meet you face to face in Heaven! Because of you, I have a wife who also loves the LORD and is proud of her Jewish roots and knows more of the Old Testament than a lot of Jewish people we have known…

The Bible says , …that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus who prays for us. As I mentioned earlier I have a feeling you know what I am doing…I know I am on unchartered water here in writing this, but I truly believe the Holy Spirit is guiding me. Getting excited as I have about 50 questions I would like to ask you, and hope to know a little about you before we actually meet, but don’t know if…this is really important.

We know your life was not always easy as a Jewish young lady coming to America, leaving your family, friends and Jewish religious beliefs, and marrying a Lutheran pastor, living in Northern Wisconsin and somewhere becoming a real believer in Jesus. We know your sister Emma also immigrated to America and became a believer in Jesus, as her tombstone says, “Asleep in Jesus”. I’m sure you had a good relationship with her and that she was a real help and inspiration to you…

You helped raise and should be- are proud of your 2 sons who became pastors and the other son who was a college music professor and a daughter who was a Christian school teacher, Helen Weyland who was Naomi’s mother.

Looking forward to that grand meeting in Heaven. Not only with you, but your daughter, Helen Weyland Koerwitz, my wife, Naomi’s mother, whom I also have never met but looking forward to!

See you soon!

Richard Dassow.

And so, this story is not only about genealogy. It is about gratitude. It is about seeing God’s hand in the lives of people who came before us. It is about realizing that one meeting, one journey, one act of faith, can ripple through generations.

Helen’s story is part of Naomi’s story. Naomi’s story is part of my story. And all of it belongs to God.

To God be the glory.

Naomi and Lucille: A Shared Life in the Providence of God

 

Seeing Providence Looking Back

Sometimes the providence of God is seen most clearly only when we look backward.

At the time, life may seem ordinary. A young nurse takes the next assignment. A door opens. A new place appears on the map. A friendship begins. A shared home, shared work, shared meals, shared prayers, shared burdens. Nothing may seem dramatic at first.

But years later, when we look back with the eyes of faith, we begin to see that God was there all along.

That is how I now think about Naomi and Lucille LeBeau. I always did, but now it becomes so clear.

Two Women Brought Together by God

Naomi Koerwitz, who later became Naomi Dassow, and Lucille LeBeau were brought together for a season in Buckhorn, Kentucky. They were both nurses. They both had a heart for people. They both found themselves serving in a rural Appalachian community where the needs were many and the work was personal.

But their story was more than a story about nursing.

It was a story about God’s sovereignty and providence.

I believe God mysteriously brought two different young Christian women together for that season. They came from different Christian backgrounds and different life experiences, but both had their faith in Jesus renewed early in life. They were Christian sisters in the Lord.

Long before either one of them was born, God knew their names. He knew their gifts. He knew the people they would serve. He knew the season when their lives would intersect.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

That verse helps me understand Naomi and Lucille’s shared life. God had prepared good works for both of them. For a time, those good works were done together.

More Than Nurses

Naomi and Lucille lived and worked together in a way most of us can hardly imagine today. Their life was not divided neatly into work hours and personal hours. They were together in the work, together in the home, together in the community, and together in the daily demands of caring for people.

They served 24/7.

They entered homes. They listened to people. They cared for the sick. They traveled roads and hills and hollows. They brought medical skill, but also something more: the presence of Christ through compassion, patience, courage, and faithfulness.

Their nursing was real nursing. But it was also ministry.

That is what Christian community can become when faith moves from words into life. Naomi and Lucille were sisters in the Lord, and that sisterhood was not theoretical. It was lived out in shared work, shared trust, shared service, and shared dependence on God.

An Older Sister and Informal Mentor

Lucille was about fifteen years older than Naomi and had never married. That age difference mattered. I imagine Lucille was not only Naomi’s coworker, but also an informal mentor and older sister in the Lord.

She had more life experience, more nursing experience, and more experience serving in difficult places. Naomi was still young, still being shaped, still learning how her faith and her nursing could come together in a life of service. Lucille likely helped model that for her.

Their shared life was not only about medical work. It included ordinary days, Sunday worship, church services, recreation, conversations, meals, laughter, prayer, and the quiet companionship that forms people over time. Seeds were planted in Naomi during that season. Those seeds bore fruit later in her marriage, motherhood, nursing, church service, prayer ministry, and compassion for people in need.

That is one of the beautiful mysteries of God’s providence. One life touches another life, and the influence keeps moving outward. Lucille’s life touched Naomi’s life. Naomi’s life touched mine, our children, our church, and many others. The ripple effect continues, even now.

Taking More Than a Degree Into the World

I remember the thought shared by Lauri Thompson back at their college graduation. While parents were snapping pictures of their daughters receiving degrees, those young women were taking something more than a college degree out into the world.

That was true of Naomi.

It was also true of Lucille.

They carried knowledge, training, and professional skill. But they also carried faith, calling, compassion, and the love of Jesus. In Buckhorn, that love became visible. It went out into the community through their hands, their voices, their prayers, and their willingness to serve.

A Season, Then Separate Paths

The time Naomi and Lucille shared did not last forever. Seasons rarely do.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

There was a season when God joined their lives. Then there came a season when God led them in different directions. Not by their conscious choice, but by the changing healthcare system at the time. The mid 70’s. And that was the event that led Naomi back to Milwaukee where we met a short time later.

Lucille had a different path ahead. Naomi had a different path ahead. Their parting was not the end of the story. It was God continuing His story in each of them.

Lucille went on to serve in other places and in other ways. Naomi came back to Milwaukee. She became my wife, the mother of our children, and a woman of quiet but deep ministry. She served in nursing, in home care, in church life, in prayer, in hospitality, and in many hidden ways that may never be fully known this side of heaven.

But I believe something from Buckhorn stayed with her.

The courage. The compassion. The ability to enter hard places. The willingness to serve without needing attention. The deep sense that people mattered because they mattered to God.

Thanking God for Lucille

As I think about Naomi’s life now, I am thankful for Lucille.

Lucille was not just a coworker in Naomi’s early life. She was part of God’s shaping work in Naomi. She was a sister, a mentor, a companion in service, and a witness to the faithfulness of God.

I do not know all that Naomi learned from Lucille. I do not know all the conversations they had, all the prayers they prayed, or all the burdens they carried together. But I know this: their shared season mattered.

And because Naomi’s life blessed mine for 45 years, I feel gratitude for those who helped shape her before I ever knew her.

Lucille was one of those people.

The Mystery of God’s Plan

The older I get, the more I realize how much of life is mystery.

We make choices. We pray. We walk through open doors. We wonder what God is doing. Sometimes we only understand a little. Sometimes we do not understand at all.

But faith tells me this: God is not absent.

He was not absent in Buckhorn. He was not absent when Naomi and Lucille were brought together. He was not absent when their paths separated. He was not absent when Naomi later became my wife. And He is not absent now as I grieve, remember, write, and give thanks.

Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

Naomi and Lucille may not have seen the full meaning of their shared season at the time. But God did.

And now, looking back, I can say thank You, Lord.

Thank You for Buckhorn.

Thank You for Lucille.

Thank You for Naomi.

Thank You for the mysterious providence that brought two Christian sisters together for a season of service, and then sent each one forward into the good works You had prepared for them.

A Prayer

Lord, thank You for the quiet beauty of Your providence.
Thank You for bringing Naomi and Lucille together in Your time and for Your purposes.
Thank You for their faith in Jesus and for the sisterhood they shared in You.
Thank You for the people they served, the lives they touched, and the love they carried.
Help me to see Naomi’s story with gratitude, not only sorrow.
Help me to trust that every season of life is held in Your hands.
Continue to use Naomi’s legacy and Lucille’s faithfulness for Your glory.
Amen.

 

 

Naomi is on the left .  Lucille is on the right

 

A Journey to Buckhorn: Naomi, Prayer, and Providence

 

Sometimes the providence of God can be seen only when we look backward.

At the time, life may feel ordinary. A winter morning. A car buried in snow. A young nurse pulling on boots and facing another bitter day in northern Wisconsin. A quiet prayer half spoken and half sighed. But years later, we begin to see that God was working through all of it—the weather, the longing, the people, the memories, the restlessness, and even the questions.

That is how I think about Naomi’s journey to Buckhorn.

I recently found a few pages of Naomi’s writings from nearly fifty years ago. In those writings she used the name “Ann.” I do not know all the reasons why, but I can almost see her there in that story—young, thoughtful, practical, and quietly listening for the next step God had for her.

“Please let this be my last winter in all this cold and snow,” Ann half prayed and half sighed as she pulled up her hood, shoved on her high boots, and pushed open the door to check how much digging would be needed to get her car cleared off after last night’s fresh snowfall of eight more inches.

She stepped outside and took in short, gasping breaths of crisp, bitterly cold air. The sky above was brilliantly blue. The snow clung to the trees. The ground was covered with a shimmering, clean blanket of white. It was beautiful. But it was cold. Another twelve-below-zero day, the weatherman had said.

Naomi liked the farming country of northern Wisconsin. She liked the people. They appreciated her nursing skills, and that meant something to her. She had a nurse’s heart long before I knew her. She was not simply doing a job. She cared about people. She cared about their needs, their hurts, their families, and their dignity.

But something in her began to stir.

She wrote, “If I like this type of nursing so well, why not move to an even remoter area where there is a greater need for nurses?”

That thought may have seemed simple. But I believe it was one of those defining moments in her life. Not dramatic. Not announced with trumpets. Not debated in some great theological way. Just a thought, a question, a prompting.

Why not go where the need is greater?

When I think about Naomi now, I do not believe she spent months agonizing over whether she should serve. It seemed like the natural thing to do. It was the thing God called her to do. A real calling. She had the training. She had the compassion. She had the courage. And she had the willingness to go.

That willingness did not come out of nowhere.

Naomi had a Christian background that shaped her deeply. Her roots mattered. Her family mattered. Her childhood mattered. The people God placed around her mattered. One of those people was Gretch, Naomi’s older sister, who was eleven years older than Naomi.

When Naomi was about eleven years old, Gretch took her on a road trip to California to visit distant relatives. I do not remember all the details, and I may still find documents someday that fill in more of the story. But I do remember Naomi telling me about that trip several times. It must have opened her eyes to a wider world beyond her immediate surroundings.

Gretch also worked as a nurse at Children’s Hospital. Naomi was around Gretch’s life and heard the stories she brought home. Stories of children. Stories of families. Stories of suffering and care. Stories of what a nurse could mean in the life of another human being.

I cannot prove exactly when Naomi first thought, “I want to be a nurse.” But I believe those years with Gretch were part of God’s providence. A big sister. A road trip. Stories from a hospital. A young girl watching, listening, absorbing, and perhaps beginning to sense that God had a path for her too.

When we talk about calling, we often want it to sound spectacular. We want a voice from heaven or a detailed map of the future. But much of God’s guidance is quieter than that. He uses memories. He uses people. He uses needs. He uses circumstances. He uses the examples of those who go before us.

That is what I see in Naomi’s life.

Her decision to become a nurse was not just a career choice. It was connected to her heart. It was connected to her faith. It was connected to the kind of person God was forming her to be. And later, when she began to wonder about serving in an even more remote place, that too was connected to the providence of God.

The cold Wisconsin winter may have been part of it too. Naomi could see beauty in the snow-covered trees, but she also felt the burden of another long winter. “Please let this be my last winter in all this cold and snow.” That prayer may have sounded like a complaint. But maybe God was using even that longing to move her toward the next chapter.

Sometimes God uses discomfort to loosen our grip on where we are.

Not all discomfort is bad. Sometimes it is a holy restlessness. Sometimes it is the first movement of providence. We become less settled in one place because God is preparing us for another. We begin to ask new questions because He is opening a new door.

For Naomi, that door eventually led to Buckhorn, Kentucky.

Buckhorn was not glamorous. It was not easy. It was not the kind of place someone chose for comfort, convenience, or recognition. It was a place of need. A place where a nurse could matter. A place where the roads and hollers and mountain communities required more than technical skill. They required courage, compassion, patience, and love.

Naomi had those qualities.

This was before I knew her. This was before we were married. I only came to know her later, when she reluctantly returned to Milwaukee. But looking back now, I can see how God was writing her story long before I entered it.

That is another part of providence. God is always at work before we arrive.

Naomi’s journey to Buckhorn was not isolated from the rest of her life. It was connected to everything before it and everything after it. Her childhood. Her Christian roots. Gretch’s influence. The nursing stories from Children’s Hospital. The farming communities of northern Wisconsin. The cold winter prayer. The thought about going where nurses were needed more. The willingness to serve in a remote place.

One defining moment led to another.

I believe that is how God often works in our lives. We may not see the whole pattern while we are living it. We only see a step. A conversation. A memory. A need. A burden. A door. But later, when we look back, we begin to see the thread of God’s faithfulness.

Naomi and I were very different in some ways. I did not have the same Christian background as a child that she had. Not like Naomi’s. That is part of another story—how we met, how God brought us together, and how His providence shaped our marriage. But in many ways, we thought so much alike. We both came to believe deeply that God guides, provides, calls, and uses ordinary people for His purposes.

Naomi’s journey to Buckhorn reminds me that calling is not always complicated. Sometimes it is simply seeing a need and saying yes. Sometimes it is using the skills God has given us where those skills are most needed. Sometimes it is taking the next faithful step without knowing the whole road ahead.

Naomi did not go to Buckhorn to become famous. She went because people needed care. She went because nursing was more than a profession to her. She went because God had shaped her heart to serve.

And perhaps it all began, or at least became clearer, on a freezing northern Wisconsin morning when a young nurse stood in the snow and prayed, “Please let this be my last winter in all this cold and snow.”

God heard more in that prayer than she may have realized.

He heard the weariness. He heard the longing. He heard the willingness. He heard the heart of a nurse who was ready for a new assignment.

And in His time, by His providence, He led her to Buckhorn.

When I look back over Naomi’s life, I see more than memories. I see a trail of grace. I see the hand of God. I see how He used family, faith, work, weather, longing, and love to guide her steps.

That gives me hope for my own journey too.

Even now, after Naomi has gone to be with the Lord, I am still learning from her life. I am learning that God wastes nothing. I am learning that the small moments matter. I am learning that a simple prayer in the snow may become the beginning of a whole new chapter.

And I am learning again that providence is not just a doctrine to believe.

It is a story to remember.

It is Naomi’s story.

And it is ours too.

Naomi Dassow; A few pictures of ministry

 

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Naomi crossing the Kentucky River delivering supplies to patients in Buckhorn, Ky. 

More on Naomi and Dick

Naomi Koerwitz Dassow’s Journey of Faith and Service

 

Remembering Naomi Dassow and her life of faithful service

A brief reflection of Naomi and her early life

Naomi Koerwitz Dassow. A Journey of Faith and Dedication.

During the early to mid 70’s Naomi worked in Buckhorn, and Hazard Kentucky, a region known for its rugged terrain and underserved population. She joined forces with Lucile LeBeau at a rural health clinic. Armed with her jeep, s he navigated the hollers, or narrow valleys, to make mother-daughter visits. These visits were more than just routine check-ups; they were lifelines for many families who had limited access to medical care. Naomi’s dedication during these years was driven by her Christian faith and values, which propelled her to serve in such a challenging environment. Her work in Buckhorn laid a strong foundation for her future endeavors in Public Health or community healthcare. As a result, Naomi Koerwtiz Dassow made a lasting positive impact in Buckhorn, Hazard and Milwaukee.

Seeds were planted.

Naomi was encouraged by Urbana and The Frontier Nursing Service in Kentucky, but it apparently wasn’t in the Lord’s will for her to pursue midwifery with The Frontier Nursing Service. From 1975 to 1977, Naomi Koerwitz RN worked in Buckhorn with Lucille LeBeau at a small rural health clinic . Lucille LeBeau, was a midwife.   Armed with her jeep Naomi navigated the hollers, to make mother/baby visits. These visits were more than just routine check-ups; they were lifelines for many families who had limited access to medical care. Naomi’s dedication during these years was driven by her Christian faith and values, which propelled her to serve in such a challenging environment. Her work in Buckhorn laid a strong foundation for her future endeavors in public health.

Naomi’s time in Buckhorn was marked by numerous heartwarming and challenging experiences. She often recounted the stories of families who had never seen a healthcare provider before her visits. Her presence brought not only medical care but also hope and reassurance to the community.

The clinic ran out of funding and Naomi was forced to make a difficult decision and despite her deep love for the community she had come to serve, she reluctantly returned to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she soon met and married Richard. All part of God’s providence. She knew that her journey in healthcare was far from over. The skills and experiences she gained in Buckhorn would continue to guide her in her future roles.

Multiplying the seeds Naomi planted…

Naomi planted countless “seeds” during her short time in Buckhorn. The impact of her work may not have been visible to her, but those seeds sprouted and grew, creating a lasting legacy. She provided essential healthcare, emotional support, and spiritual guidance, touching the lives of many families. I remember what her highschool and college friend Lauri wrote about their graduation: “In June of 1971 on our sunny windy graduation day, we stood together joyously on the campus lawn. As our parents snapped pictures of us, we both knew we were taking something “out into the world” with us that was far better than an education!“ Furthermore, Naomi Koerwtiz Dassow continuously inspired others throughout her career. Naomi may never have seen the full harvest of the seeds she planted, but I believe heaven has kept a perfect record.

Spirit of Buckhorn

Back in Milwaukee, Naomi’s reputation as a compassionate and dedicated healthcare provider preceded her. She quickly found opportunities to continue her work, always carrying the spirit of Buckhorn with her.

Naomi with baby from our mission trip to Oaxaca

Behind the Scenes: Interview of Salvation Army Volunteer Chaplain Naomi

Richard & Naomi Dassow: “It was a great experience to be serving as chaplains in a diverse multi ethnic Christian group: Now 50 plus brothers and sisters representing over 44 different churches and 19 or more denominations. A diverse group, culturally, socially, economically and geographically…just like Heaven will be like and we can experience a little of it right here in Milwaukee! What an opportunity to serve, using our spiritual gifts, strengths, abilities, passion and are we are still learning.”

Our experience serving from 2015-2021. I hesitated to write this article because…”Jesus must become more important, while I become less important.” Contemporary English Version. An article from The WarCry magazine.

https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/wum/news/behind-the-shield-richard-and-naomi-dassow-the-salvation-army-of-milwaukee-co-chaplains

Sorry: Looks like The Salvation Army removed the link!

Naomi Dassow Service Award. 2015-2021

Stone panted by Dorie Bahr for our wedding.

Facing a New Year Dealing With Grief?

 

Aging With Purpose

Grief. Facing a new year as the year draws to a close, we all have unique experiences to reflect on…the tiny steps of faith or maybe even some dramatic leaps of faith and adventure!

Some of us have experienced some type of grief in our lives this past year. I have. Loss of a loved one, whether a spouse, parent, friend or…..and we ask, “Where do I go from here?”

Sooner or later each of use will experience grief. It is different for each of us.

If you know of someone going through the loss of a loved one, you may want to forward this post on to them.

A good support group is Griefshare

You can register for a daily email encouraging you in your journey of grief. Easy to unsubscribe.

Why Churches support GriefShare,

 

 

A good selection of resources: Books; Through a Season Of Grief. And Grieving With Hope.

Another good book: Getting to the Other Side of Grief: Overcoming the Loss of a Spouse.

“We’re going to have tough days, but that’s al right because the big day is yet to come”. Joseph Stowell

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to…grieve like the rest of mankind,, who have no hope” l1 Thessalonians 4:13

You can have peace and joy amid your suffering and sorrow. You might be asking how is this possible in a world filled with pain and suffering?

“It’s important that you find the right answers to that question. If you don’t, you’ll become cynical about what God has to say, distancing yourself from him and his people. After that, you’re likely to join the conspiracy of busyness, engaging in new relationships, hobbies, and so on to distract yourself from hurt and inevitable death.” “Finally,, the last thing you want to do is try to survive this scary, temporary world without god’s help.” Grieving With Hope. Samuel J. Hodges and Kathy Leonard.

A good support group is Griefshare

At GriefShare you’ll receive valuable guidance and tips, leading you to relief, comfort, and peace of mind.

My journey has just started. 

  

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Best is Yet to Come!

“Are the best days of your life in front of you? Our outlook on life-and our answer to that question-can change with time. When we’re younger, we look ahead. Once we’ve grown older, we yearn for the past. But when we walk with God, whatever our age, the best is yet to come!

From Stand Strong. 365 Devotions For Men By Men. Our Daily Bread. January 3rd. James Banks

 

 

A good resource on Grief by Randy Alcorn.

Naom's Peaceful Transition to Heaven

 

Naomi’s Peaceful Transition

When my beloved wife Naomi took her final breath on earth, I found myself enveloped by a profound sense of peace that surpassed understanding. While the pain of loss lingered, my heart was assured that Naomi’s journey was not over but simply transformed. My faith tells me that Naomi’s spirit was welcomed into heaven—her true home—where love, joy, and eternal connection await.

Naomi’s First Experience: Face to Face with Jesus Christ after being escorted into His presence by angels. I can only imagine what that was like. Her love of Jesus and her life lived for His glory, and then finally seeing Him face to face.

Naomi’s First Experience in Eternity

I can only imagine the awe and peace that must have flooded Naomi’s soul as she took her first steps into the realm where faith becomes sight. After her final breath Naomi was gently escorted by angels into the very presence of Jesus Christ. It is a moment beyond the grasp of earthly words: the Savior she loved so deeply, whose life and teachings shaped her every day, now standing before her, face to face.

Years of devotion, worship, and longing culminated in this sacred encounter. Naomi’s heart, which had always beat with love for her Lord, must have overflowed as she gazed into the eyes of the One who gave His life for her. The joy of meeting Jesus, unfiltered and unmediated, is the fulfillment of every hope, every prayer, every act of trust she ever offered.

A Family Reunion Like No Other

But the wonders of heaven did not end there. Soon, Naomi was reunited with her beloved mom and dad, her sister, and her brother and my mother—the family who had gone before her. And her Jewish grandmother who also came to believe in Jesus. Naomi was born after her grandmother died…but that reunion must have been something!  The embrace of loved ones long missed, the laughter and the tears of reunion, filled this new beginning with profound comfort and joy. Their bonds, never broken by time or distance, were now restored in a place where sorrow and separation are no more.

And then, I can only imagine, but speculate…that all the patients that Naomi visited during her brief time in Buckhorn Kentucky as a rural health nurse, driving her jeep up the hollers visiting people she had never seen before. Greeting her. What a reunion!

Fellowship with the Saints

And so began Naomi’s eternal fellowship—not just with her own family, but with countless others she had only known from the pages of her Bible. She met the heroes of the faith, the witnesses who inspired her journey: Abraham, Moses, Mary, Peter, and so many more. Together, they worshiped the Lamb, sharing stories of grace, redemption, and God’s unending love.

In heaven, Naomi’s journey continues—her worship deeper, her joy complete, her love fulfilled. Surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses, she sings, rejoices, and lives forever in the presence of the King she so cherished on earth. And she awaits her bodily physical resurrection on the new earth.

What a reunion. What glory. What hope for all who share Naomi’s faith and await the day when they, too, will see Jesus face to face. And I, Richard, have to remember that I will see Naomi again soon, our time apart is just a short temporary separation.

Griefshare: A Journey Through Grief and Hope

Grief is love with nowhere to go

“I am not a grief counselor. I am simply a husband who shared 45 years with my wife Naomi, and who has spent the last eighteen months learning what it means to grieve with hope.”

My wife Naomi has been with the Lord for eighteen months now.

Like many widows and widowers, I did not choose to become an expert on grief. Yet grief has become a subject I have studied, experienced, wrestled with, prayed through, and talked about more than I ever imagined.

Over the past year and a half, I have attended GriefShare programs at three different churches. At one church, I completed the program three times. When the sessions end, a new group simply begins again. Some participants have attended six, seven, or even more times. What begins as a grief support group often becomes a community of people who understand one another’s journeys.

I have also participated in a secular grief support group through Horizon for nearly eighteen months. If you live in or near Milwaukee, Horizon has a free support group for you. Yes, I said FREE. Check it out. A great Resource Center. Along the way, I have read many books on grief and loss, especially those focused on the death of a spouse.

Grief Is Normal

While every author approaches grief differently, several common themes appear again and again.

One of the most helpful lessons I learned came from the GriefShare materials, especially Is My Grief Normal?

The answer is usually yes.

Many grieving people wonder if they are grieving too much, too little, too long, or in the wrong way. The reality is that grief is not a problem to solve. It is a natural response to loving someone deeply.

There is no timetable. There is no finish line. There is no “graduation day” from grief.

Healing Does Not Mean Forgetting

Dr. Alan Wolfelt, in Healing a Spouse’s Grieving Heart, reminds us that healing is not about getting over our spouse.

The goal is not forgetting.

The goal is learning how to carry both love and loss at the same time.

Naomi remains part of my story. The memories, lessons, faith, and ministry we shared continue to influence my life every day. Love does not end simply because one person now lives in heaven.

Hope and Grief Can Coexist

One lesson repeated throughout Christian grief literature is that grief and hope are not opposites.

As Christians, we grieve.

Jesus Himself wept.

But we do not grieve as those who have no hope.

I miss Naomi every day. Yet I know where she is. She is with Christ. She is healed. She is worshiping in the presence of the Savior she loved and served.

The pain of separation is real, but so is the certainty of reunion.

Grief Changes Us

The GriefShare book The Loss of a Spouse acknowledges a difficult truth: life is never quite the same after losing a husband or wife.

The routines change.

The conversations stop.

The future we imagined changes.

But God remains faithful.

Many widows and widowers discover that while they would never have chosen this path, God continues to provide purpose, companionship, ministry opportunities, and growth in unexpected ways.

What Helps a Grieving Person?

People often ask what they should say to someone who has lost a spouse.

After my own experience and many conversations with others, here are a few suggestions:

• Show up.
• Listen more than you speak.
• Don’t try to fix their grief.
• Share memories of their loved one.
• Continue reaching out after the funeral.
• Invite them to ordinary activities.
• Allow them to talk about their spouse.
• Be patient with tears and emotions.
• Pray for them and with them.

Sometimes the greatest gift is simply being present.

Consider a GriefShare Group

One of the most valuable resources in my own grief journey has been GriefShare.

Over the past eighteen months, I have attended GriefShare programs at three different churches and completed the program multiple times. Each group was a little different, but all provided something important: understanding, encouragement, practical tools for navigating grief, and the opportunity to be with others who truly “get it.”

If you have recently lost a spouse, family member, or close friend, I encourage you to consider attending a GriefShare group. You do not need to walk through grief alone. Many churches across the country host GriefShare programs, and new groups begin regularly throughout the year.

If you know someone who is grieving, one of the kindest things you can do is encourage them to explore a local GriefShare group. You might even offer to help them find one or attend the first session with them.

GriefShare does not remove the pain of loss, but it can provide hope, understanding, biblical encouragement, and companionship for the journey ahead.

Many people enter their first meeting feeling hesitant or uncertain. They often leave realizing they are not alone.

What Doesn’t Help?

Most people mean well, but certain phrases can unintentionally hurt:

• “You need to move on.”
• “At least they’re no longer suffering.”
• “God needed another angel.”
• “Everything happens for a reason.”

Grieving people usually do not need explanations.

They need compassion.

A Final Thought

If you are grieving today, know that you are not alone.

If you love someone who is grieving, know that your presence matters more than your words.

And if you are a follower of Christ, remember this: grief is temporary, but the promises of God are eternal.

One day every goodbye in Christ will become a hello.

That is not wishful thinking.

That is Christian hope.

Call to Action

Take a moment this week to reach out to someone who has lost a spouse, parent, child, or dear friend.

Send a note.

Make a phone call.

Share a memory.

Invite them to coffee.

Your simple act of kindness may be exactly what they need today.

Along with the support of family, friends, church, prayer, and Scripture, grief support ministries such as GriefShare have been a significant part of God’s provision during my own journey after Naomi’s homegoing.

Prayer

Father, thank You for walking beside us through every season of life, including seasons of loss. Comfort those who are grieving today. Strengthen those who feel lonely, weary, or forgotten. Help us to be compassionate friends who listen well and love faithfully. Thank You for the hope we have through Jesus Christ and for the promise that death is not the end for those who belong to Him. Until the day of reunion, help us trust You, serve You, and find our strength in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

My personal beliefs that are the foundation and help through this season. 

Grief Resources 

Are you a grandparent?

 

Naomi being a substitute Grandparent.

There are approximately 30 million grandparents in the U.S. Each one is a potential influence in the lives of their grandchildren. Most Christians would agree, but so little is being done to challenge and equip them.

 

Navigating an unknown future.

In today’s rapidly changing world, it can be daunting to navigate an unknown future. However, I find immense comfort in the wisdom of these verses. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”Proverbs 3:3-6  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

When the time is right…

Over the past few years, one of my guiding principles has been: “When the time is right, I the Lord will make it happen.” – Isaiah 60:22. This verse has become a source of strength, reinforcing the belief that timing is not ours to control.

 

Seeds of faith and hope.

Before you leave today, I encourage you to take a moment and reflect on your own. What seeds of faith and hope are you planting for those who will follow? Legacy Coalition is here to encourage churches to minister to grandparents as they encourage and influence their grandchildren. Our desire is for grandparents to look beyond the pleasures of the retirement culture and invest in the lives of their grandchildren. 

 

 “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’ Numbers 6:24-26 NIV Let’s do the same!

 

Prayer for our children

As we move through life, let’s not forget the profound impact our prayers and intentions can have—not just for ourselves but for the generations to come. Our children and grandchildren hold the potential to change the world for eternity, just as those before us prayed for our paths. It starts with pray and worship!

 

Why not forward this post on to your friends who are grandparents?

What Are My Loved Ones Experiencing in the Present Heaven?

 

By Randy Alcorn

June 3, 2020

A reader wrote, “I just finished the book Heaven. Knowing Jesus, I found it inspiring and well documented. I was disappointed there wasn’t more mentioned about the immediate Heaven, the one right after we leave this earth. I just lost a loved one and would like more information and clarity about what she is experiencing. I have read three books on Heaven, read a lot about the New Earth, but little about what happens when I die.”  

While my book Heaven centers on the New Earth, the eternal Heaven, a few chapters deal with the present Heaven. When a Christian dies he enters what theologians call the “intermediate state,” a transitional period between life on Earth and the future resurrection to life on the New Earth. Usually when we talk about “Heaven,” we mean the place that Christians go when they die. When we tell our children “Grandma’s now in Heaven,” we’re referring to what I prefer to call the present Heaven (the word intermediate sometimes confuses people).

Books on Heaven often fail to distinguish between the intermediate and eternal states, using the one word—Heaven—as all-inclusive. But this is an important distinction. The present Heaven is a temporary lodging, a waiting place (a delightful one!) until the return of Christ and our bodily resurrection. The eternal Heaven, the New Earth, is our true home, the place where we will live forever with our Lord and each other. The great redemptive promises of God will find their ultimate fulfillment on the New Earth, not in the present Heaven. God’s children are destined for life as resurrected beings on a resurrected Earth.

Though the present Heaven is not our final destination, it’s a wonderful place, and it’s understandable that those who have had loved ones die in Christ wonder what life is like for them there. Based on the Bible’s teaching, we know several things: the present Heaven is a real (and possibly physical) place. Those who love Jesus and trust Him for their salvation will be with Him there, together with all who have died in Christ. We will be awake and cognizant. And because we will be with Jesus, it is “better by far” than our present existence.

The Present Heaven Is a Real Place

Heaven is normally invisible to those living on Earth. For those who have trouble accepting the reality of an unseen realm, consider the perspective of researchers who embrace string theory. Scientists at Yale, Princeton, and Stanford, among others, have postulated that there are ten unobservable dimensions and likely an infinite number of imperceptible universes. If this is what some scientists believe, why should anyone feel self-conscious about believing in one unobservable dimension, a realm containing angels and Heaven and Hell?

The Bible teaches that sometimes humans are allowed to see into Heaven. When Stephen was being stoned because of his faith in Christ, he gazed into Heaven: “Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and ­Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God’” (Acts 7:55-56). Scripture tells us not that Stephen dreamed this, but that he actually saw it.

Wayne Grudem points out that Stephen “did not see mere symbols of a state of existence. It was rather that his eyes were opened to see a spiritual dimension of reality which God has hidden from us in this present age, a dimension which none the less ­really does exist in our space/time universe, and within which ­Jesus now lives in his physical resurrected body, waiting even now for a time when he will return to earth.”

I agree with Grudem that the present Heaven is a space/time universe. He may be right that it’s part of our own universe, or it may be in a different universe. It could be a universe next door that’s normally hidden but sometimes opened. In any case, I don’t think God gave Stephen a vision in order to make Heaven appear physical. Rather, He allowed Stephen to see a present Heaven that was (and is) physical.

The prophet Elisha asked God to give his servant, Gehazi, a glimpse of the invisible realm. He prayed, “‘O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). Acts 7 and 2 Kings 6 are narrative accounts, historical in nature, not apocalyptic or parabolic literature. The text is clear that Stephen and Gehazi saw real things.

The Present Heaven May Be a Physical Place

If we look at Scripture, we’ll see considerable evidence that the present Heaven has physical properties. We’re told there are scrolls in Heaven, elders who have faces, martyrs who wear clothes, and even people with palm branches in their hands. There are musical instruments in the present Heaven, horses coming into and out of Heaven, and an eagle flying overhead in Heaven.

Many commentators dismiss the possibility that any of these passages in Revelation should be taken literally, on the grounds that the book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature, which is known for its figures of speech. But the book of Hebrews isn’t apocalyptic, it’s epistolary. Moses was told, in building the earthly Tabernacle, “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.” If that which was built after the pattern was physical, might it suggest the original was also physical? The book of Hebrews seems to say that we should see Earth as a derivative realm and Heaven as the source realm.

Unlike God and the angels, who are in essence spirits (John 4:24; Hebrews 1:14), human beings are by nature both spiritual and physical. God did not create Adam as a spirit and place it inside a body. Rather, He first created a body, then breathed into it a spirit. There was never a moment when a human being existed without a body. We are not essentially spirits who inhabit bodies; we are essentially as much physical as we are spiritual. We cannot be fully human without both a spirit and a body.

Given the consistent physical descriptions of the intermediate Heaven and those who dwell there, it seems possible—though this is certainly debatable—that between our earthly lives and our bodily resurrection God may grant us some temporary physical form that will allow us to function as human beings while in that unnatural state “between bodies” awaiting our bodily resurrection. If so, that would account for the repeated depictions of people now in Heaven occupying physical space, wearing clothes and crowns, carrying branches, and having body parts (for example, Lazarus’s finger in Luke 16:24).

A fundamental article of the Christian faith is that the resurrected Christ now dwells in Heaven. We are told that His resurrected body on Earth was physical and that this same, physical Jesus ascended to Heaven, from where He will one day return to Earth. It seems indisputable, then, to say that there is at least one physical body in the present Heaven. If Christ’s body in the intermediate Heaven has physical properties, it stands to reason that others in Heaven could have physical forms as well, even if only temporary ones.

To avoid misunderstanding, I need to emphasize a critical doctrinal point. According to Scripture, we do not receive resurrection bodies immediately after death. Resurrection does not happen one at a time. If we have intermediate forms in the intermediate Heaven, they will not be our true bodies, which we leave behind at death.

So if we are given material forms when we die (and I’m suggesting this possibility only because of the many Scriptures depicting physical forms in the present Heaven), they would be temporary vessels. Any understanding of people having physical forms immediately after death that would lead us to conclude that the future resurrection has already happened or is unnecessary is emphatically wrong!

We’ll Be Together with Christ and Those Who Love Him

As painful as death is, and as right as it is to grieve it (Jesus did), we on this dying Earth can also rejoice for our loved ones who are in the presence of Christ. When they die, those covered by Christ’s blood are experiencing the joy of Christ’s presence in a place so wonderful that Christ called it Paradise.

As the apostle Paul tells us, though we naturally grieve at losing loved ones, we are not “to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Our parting is not the end of our relationship, only an interruption. We have not “lost” them, because we know where they are. And one day, we’re told, in a magnificent reunion, they and we “will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18).

Peter tells us, “You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11). God is the main welcomer, no doubt.  All eyes are on Jesus, the Cosmic Center, the Source of all Happiness. But wouldn’t it make sense for the secondary welcomers to be God’s people, those who touched our lives, and whose lives we touched? Wouldn’t that be a great greeting party?

Jesus said, “There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). Angels probably rejoice too, but the ones living in the presence of angels Jesus refers to are likely God’s people, redeemed human beings, some of who knew and loved and prayed for the conversion of these sinners, and now are beholding the answers to their prayers. Wouldn’t such people be a natural part of the welcome committee when we enter Heaven?

I envision glorious reunions and amazing introductions, conversations and storytelling at banquets and on walks, jaws dropping and laughter long and hard, the laughter of Jesus being the most contagious.   

When I enter Heaven, I look forward to being hugged by my dear mother, who I led to Christ when I was a new believer in high school. Then I picture Mom, that broad smile on her face, presenting me with my sixth grandchild. In 2013 my daughter Angie had a miscarriage. This was a very painful time for our family, but one more reason I am looking forward to Heaven. When this happens, I will look at Jesus, nodding my thanks to the One with the nail-scarred hands, and I will not let my grandchild or my mother go. 

Those in the Present Heaven Are Awake and Alive

That we’ll receive “a rich welcome” necessitates that at death, we will be awake and conscious. Christ depicted Lazarus and the rich man as conscious in Heaven and Hell immediately after they died (Luke 16:22-31). Jesus told the dying thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The apostle Paul said that to die was to be with Christ (Philippians 1:23), and to be absent from the body was to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). After their deaths, martyrs are pictured in Heaven, crying out to God to bring justice on Earth (Revelation 6:9-11).

These passages clearly teach that there is no such thing as “soul sleep,” or a long period of unconsciousness between life on Earth and life in Heaven. The phrase “fallen asleep” (in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 and similar passages) is a euphemism for death, describing the body’s outward appearance. The spirit’s departure from the body ends our existence on Earth. The physical part of us “sleeps” until the resurrection, while the spiritual part of us relocates to a conscious existence in Heaven (Daniel 12:2-3; 2 Corinthians 5:8).

Every reference in Revelation to human beings talking and worshiping in Heaven prior to the resurrection of the dead demonstrates that our spiritual beings are conscious, not sleeping, after death. (Nearly everyone who believes in soul sleep believes that souls are disembodied at death; it’s not clear how disembodied beings could sleep, because sleeping involves a physical body.)

As awake and conscious beings, those in Heaven are free to ask God questions (Revelation 6:9-11), which means they have an audience with God. It also means they can and do learn. They wouldn’t be asking questions if they already knew the answers. In Heaven, people desire understanding and pursue it. There is also time in the present Heaven. People are aware of time’s passing and are eager for the coming day of the Lord’s judgment. God answers that the martyrs must “rest a little longer.” Waiting requires the passing of time. I see no reason to believe that the realities of this passage apply only to one group of martyrs and to no one else in Heaven. We should assume that what is true of them is also true of our loved ones already there, and it will be true of us when we die.

Life in Christ’s Presence Is Better by Far

Paul says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.… I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Philippians 1:21, 23). Life in the Heaven we go to when we die, where we’ll dwell prior to our bodily resurrection, is “better by far” than living here on Earth under the Curse, away from the direct presence of God.

Paul spoke from experience. He had actually been taken into Heaven years before writing those words (2 Corinthians 12:1–6). He knew firsthand what awaited him in Paradise. He wasn’t speculating when he called it gain. To be in the very presence of Jesus, enjoying the wonders of His being, and to be with God’s people and no longer subject to sin and suffering? “Better by far” is an understatement!

King David wrote, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11, NKJV). In the presence of God, there’s nothing but joy. Those who live in the presence of Christ find great happiness in worshiping God and living as righteous beings in rich fellowship in a sinless environment. And because God is continuously at work on Earth, the saints watching from Heaven have a great deal to praise Him for, including God’s drawing people on Earth to Himself (Luke 15:7, 10).

Our loved ones now in Heaven live in a place where joy is the air they breathe, and nothing they see on earth can diminish their joy. Their joy doesn’t depend on ignorance, but perspective, drawn from the Christ in whose presence they live. If you’re following Jesus, no doubt your loved ones there are rejoicing over you. The great cloud of witnesses of Hebrews 12 is now up in the stands of Heaven and watching you on the same playing field they once ran on. They’re looking forward to hearing Jesus say “Well done” to you, and they may also commend you for your service of Jesus!

But those in the present Heaven are also looking forward to Christ’s return, their bodily resurrection, the final judgment, and the fashioning of the New Earth from the ruins of the old. Only then and there, in the eternal Heaven, the home Jesus is preparing for us, will all evil and suffering and sorrow be washed away by the hand of God. Only then and there will we experience the fullness of joy intended by God and purchased for us by Christ, who we will forever praise!

Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over sixty books and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. 

Topics

• Heaven

Recommended Reading

50 Days of Heaven (Special Edition)

Grieving with Hope

Heaven

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