Thoughts on life and death

In the past week two of my friends lost a parent. Its heartbreaking....but there is a side of it that comforts and allows us to rejoice. I cried as I ran today my mind moving from memories to prayer and back again. It was very strange, but comforting.
One man, a husband, father, grandfather, will be buried today. Taken in the "prime" of his life by someone else's carelessness that led to an accident that killed this man. He was a man I can't remember without a smile on his face, an active grandfather and father. He was witty and fun. Most importantly he KNEW the Lord.
One woman, a wife, mother, grandmother, who passed away last night after all the things that make you "you" were stolen from her by a horrid disease. She was funny! Always cheerful and kind. And...most importantly she KNEW the Lord.
So there is the comfort and rejoicing. These loved ones knew with absolute certainty where they would spend eternity. Do you? We rejoice because we know that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and that as they passed from life to death they were greeted by the arms of a loving Savior.
I know I will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord? Do you? If you don't please talk to me. I am eager to share what I know. Not believe, know! This is not about religion or doing the right thing. If it were I would fail miserably. Its about knowing Christ as your personal Savior. Its about a personal relationship with God. And its not about being perfect. God doesn't want us to wait for perfection to seek Him. He wants us to come to Him in our brokenness so that He can do the perfecting work He desires to do in us!
My heart aches with the Eaton and McEntire families and my prayers are with them that they will be comforted by a peace that passes understanding and by the knowledge that the ones they love knew Christ, lived for Him and loved Him.