“On the 4th of January 2021, I received news of my daughter passing. We were stunned. And because of COVID we couldn’t travel, so we got no closure.” While the world around her was still in post-Christmas and New Year celebration mode, Neena’s world came crashing down with one phone call.
Numb with grief, Neena went into denial. “My husband and I kept trying to deny the fact that our Aneesha was gone,” she said as she remembered instances when they would instinctively pick up the phone to call their daughter even months after her passing away.
Neena was a school teacher before she retired. This position gave her many opportunities to counsel people. “I had opportunities to tell Christians about life after death; about the eternity we would spend with Jesus, but when it came to convincing myself in this situation, it was unbearably tough,” said Neena, tearing up as she recalled the doubts she had and how hard she prayed to believe. She struggled to wrap her mind around the fact that a daughter – her daughter – was gone before her. “It is acceptable if parents go first and children follow. But this was just the opposite.” It took about six months for Neena to get back to counselling. It was cathartic for her – witnessing others go through immense pain and still be strong in their faith helped Neena heal her own broken heart.
Job 1:21 spoke to Neena in her grief. ‘The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.’ As much as Neena and her family tried to console each other, it just wasn’t enough. She remembers how much she held onto God for strength. “He was my rock, my anchor,” she said, fighting back tears.
The septuagenarian couple found solace in the promises of God. “Of course there is sadness and tears will flow, and we will feel an emptiness, but we decided to celebrate her life,” Neena said remembering just how tough it was. She gives all glory to God for enabling them to do this. Today hope runs between their love and loss and they are standing firm on God’s promise of eternity.
