Victoria woke up this morning eager to play with the pipe cleaner pretzel she had made yesterday afternoon. For some reason it had captured her imagination and she had even dreamed about it during the night. She reached to the dresser top where she had safely hidden her precious creation, only to find it broken, destroyed. The child was absolutely heartbroken -- end of the world heartbroken.

Apparently the prized pipe cleaners had been discovered by her younger sister, who determinedly claimed them as her own art materials. She quickly turned the pretzel into a butterfly. The masterpiece was then left for Victoria to discover and treasure.

Unfortunately, midst the tears of a five-year-old's grief, the promise of the new creation was not seen or appreciated.

How similar that is for so many of God’s children who find themselves consumed with loss. We want to hold on so desperately to what we know, and that desperation keeps us from seeing the beauty of what lies ahead.

I wrote these words about a month ago and put them aside when I developed writer’s block. I did not know then why I was unable to continue, nor did I know how bittersweet they would be to share with you today.

The days between then and now have brought two losses into my life, both involving individuals who have deeply touched my life. Those lost have been as different from one another as possible. One was Clark Pinnock, a man significant to me as a mentor, a friend, and an inspiration. The other, a child of God not yet named, with no accomplishments, no status in the eyes of the world, no opportunity even to be born. Both were deeply loved, and both their deaths have brought heartbreak.

But we need not be limited to the grief a five year old has over a pipe cleaner pretzel. God has a far greater vision of what beauty and completion is all about. Being a human on earth is significant, but for the Christian believer it is only the beginning of the story. Butterflies are of far greater value than crushed pretzels, a fact most of us soon discover and treasure.

Through drying tears we can affirm with the Apostle Paul, who penned “My aim is to raise hopes by pointing the way to life without end. This is the life God promised long ago—and he doesn't break promises! (Titus 1:2, The Message)