Moving Forward From Loss - Jonathan Masoli

Dedicated to Jonathan Masoli

I just got back from San Francisco for a one year memorial of my cousins Jonathan's death. Just to recall last year, it was one of the hardest funerals I have ever attended aside from my parents. My cousin was a young and vibrant 30 year old man who loved life and died only a week and half following his wedding day.

He died on his honeymoon in beautiful Jamaicha. Although it wasn't so beautiful after it happened. There was much red tape to bring him back to the states and surviving were his parents, new bride and only sister. Our family was devastated by the loss and needless to say it has been a very tough year.

Approaching his one year memorial service I wasn't sure what to expect but couldn't believe it has already been a year since he passed.

It never seems to amaze me how God's faithfulness never seems to change. My dear cousin Jill, Jonathan's sister calls me and shares with me how hard this year has been and then shared with me some powerful words that blessed my heart. She told me that this year has been very hard but coming up to His one year anniversary she felt that God was healing her of the pain and loss but more importantly she shared how she believed that her brother would want her to live for Him rather than die.

At the memorial service she shared the passage of Ecclesiastes chapter 3 that talks about a time for every season and how her season of mourning was very tough but she also believed in this new year would be a season of healing and next a season of joy.

Both my uncle Eddie and cousin Jill shared at the memorial service how we have all had a season of grief but joy comes in the morning, that there will be a season of joy once again and that Jonathan would not want us to continue in grief but to live not just for him but for God. God has a plan for each of our lives and that plan is to live life abundantly the best we can be according to His will.

It was a wonderful and encouraging message and although we will always miss Jonathan his spirit will continue to live in our hearts and our minds and we will be able to hold on to the memories that we shared with him forever in our hearts.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What does the worker gain from his toil?

10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men.

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Jonathan We Love You and We Will See You Again!