Two daughters died this week. One older and one not yet born. Different families. Different kinds of pain.
As I was reading about Jonathan Edwards last night, it discussed his son-in-law dying and his daughter’s response to that death. It brought tears to my eyes.
I would speak it to the glory of God’s name, that I think he has, in an uncommon degree, discovered himself to be an all-sufficient God, a full fountain of all good. Although all streams were cut off, yet the fountain is left full. I think I have been enabled to cast my care upon him, and have found great peace and calmness in my mind, such as this world cannot give nor take…Give me leave to entreat you both, to request earnestly of the Lord, that I may never despise his chastenings, nor faint under this his severe stroke.
–Ester Burr (daughter of Jonathan Edwards)
Then soon after Jonathan Edwards died and his wife wrote the following:
What shall I say: A holy and good God has covered us with a dark cloud. O that we may kiss the rod, and lay our hands on our mouths! The Lord has done it, he has made me adore his goodness that we had him so long. But my God lives; and he has my heart. O what a legacy my husband, and your father has left to us! We are all give to God: and there I am and love to be.
–Sarah Edwards
What shall we say then? What shall we do?