John 14:6 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

[This is the ninth devotion in a series of twelve songs that have impacted us during our grief journey]

 The Other Side

Everybody's dressed in black

The preacher's saying life goes too fast

The memories have turned to tears

Thinking back on all the years

I know that you're in a better place

But I'm still here missing you today

On the morning of Bryce’s funeral I was first introduced to the song The Other Side by Colton DIxon. My mom had come down the stairs in the morning and she said a video of this song appeared in her newsfeed on Facebook. As I watched the video it showed a young man similar to Bryce portrayed as the main character of the video. As I listened to the words and watched the video, I knew that we needed to add the song to the service. We were able to add the song to the video slideshow shown just prior to the start of the service. Since that day this song has been a reminder of the hope we have even during this difficult time in our lives.

It isn't easy to say goodbye

But I know it's only for a little while

Run up ahead and I will catch up

'Cause I'm gonna see you when tomorrow comes

On the other side

On the other side

I’m gonna see you when tomorrow comes is the hope I can cling to. Bryce and I are traveling the same path. He is merely just ahead of me in that journey. Many times in our adventures on earth Bryce would run ahead in excitement and eventually I would catch up. We are on the same eternal path and one day I will join him. Until that day I must cling to the hope I have in Jesus Christ.

I bet you feel you're finally home

Running down those streets of gold

The kind of peace you can't explain

Looking into Jesus' face

I know that you're in a better place

I know I'll be joining you someday

On my hardest days I try to imagine what Heaven might be like for Bryce. This is where researching what the Bible says about Heaven provides great comfort. Heaven is a real place and Byce is having real experiences. 

On the other side

Where there are no more goodbyes

No more pain, no more tears left to cry

We will join with the angels singing their song

Praising our Savior, all the day long

Songs often bring back memories from our past but The Other Side on the other hand helps us to look forward. It is not easy to say good-bye but it is much easier when you know it is not forever. Faith in Jesus Christ provides us hope in a day that has no more tears and no more pain. Faith provides us with hope that we will be reunited on the other side.