If you believe in heaven why are you sad when a loved one dies?

Question

Assuming they believe the same thing as you do won't they be in heaven? Shouldn't you be happy at their good fortune? Is it that you are unsure about the afterlife?

Answer 1

Indeed. Perhaps it is just fear of the unknown.

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
- Bene Gesserit 'Litany Against Fear'

"You must learn to let go of everything you fear to lose"
- Yoda SW EpIII

Answer 2

I get sad when I leave my fiance even though I know I'll see her again. If being together with someone is a good thing, not being together with that person is not a good thing. I may believe fervently that I will see my grandmother again in heaven, but that does not mean that in the meantime I will not be worse off for her absence.

Christians can have Jesus for their model in this. Christ wept at Lazarus's death (John 11:35) even though he knew he was just about to raise him from the dead (11:23).

Answer 3

I once spoke to a funeral director at length about the differences in "Christian" funerals and non christian funerals. He told me that even though christians cry at funerals, they have a different demeanor than the mourners at a non christian funeral. He noted that non christians faint, scream, get hysterical howl, try to get into the casket and otherwise carry on like there is no tomorrow. Christians, he said, "smile a sad smile but comfort each other with kind words and have a peace about them." He wanted to know why this difference was so evident at the funeral I was attending. I told him that maybe christians don't feel the person is lost forever. They will be missed, but we know we will see that person again. If someone feels the dececed was maybe not a christian, then there would be more sadness. He said he would have to think about that.

Answer 4

Fear of death is a natural as the sun rising in the east. If we did not fear death than we would slaughter each other openly for trivial and even meaningless things. Picture this: I walk out to my car one morning and think of how nice it would be to throw a knife through Bob's head, something like, "Hey Bob!" and then I kill him. We would cease to exist as human beings on planet earth at all. The very reason we are gracious to each other reflects the fact that we value life-and when something of value is lost sadness and pain ensue. God appreciates sadness and hears weeping. In the beauty of the Catholic faith we pray constantly for the faithful departed. Really, my only sadness with death focuses on whether the deceased found the Lord before he/she passed.

Hence why we grieve when a loved one dies, because we value life. But to wit: those who are more devoutly followers of the Lord do not mourn heavily for those in the saving graces of the Son of Man who pass from this world into the next. The Kingdom which awaits those who follow Jesus is beyond comprehension.
That being said, God wants us to protect life, that is why when murderous aborters kill children I grieve. I don't say, "well I believe in Heaven so I don't care they are dead". In fact, grieving for people can also be a sign of respect and love, again a sign that we value God given life. When a person dies we are sad. (If we cared about them) As a result we miss them as a dead person is gone forever from our earthly lives. Being sad is a grace bestowed upon us by the Most High. Sadness reflects respect for life, and respect for life denotes an honorable faith to the Will of God.

I will put on the Armor of God
I will wield the shield of righteousness
I will wear the Helmet of Salvation
The Gospel of Peace adorns my feet as sandals
The devil will not prevail against me with his arrows

God Bless!

-rw

Answer 5

We are sad for ourselves and what we have lost. We know we will see them again, but we will have a whole in our lives and heart. I lost a baby once it was very devastating. I knew he was in Heaven and he would have had health problems if he lived, but i grieved for what I could have had, I thought of all the things I would not get to share with him growing up. Nearly destroyed me, might have if I didn't believe that God had him and I would see him again. I also believe that all things work to the good of those who love God. I trusted that He new better than me.

Answer 6

I know where my parents are going and each have requested their own desires when their spirit goes on to be with the Lord. Of course we weep and mourn and at the same time we rejoice because we miss them here on this earth. I spend a lot of time with my people especially my Mom whose health has not been good the past few years. Imagine my not having to do this again... how would you feel if you were in my life...miss being with them.
God bless you.<><

Answer 7

Anyone with Love and Faith is truly torn by that.

You miss the one you love. But, if they have eternal life, you also rejoice!

I've been to a lot of celebrations for those who we have lost here, but we have substantial faith for their destiny. As Christians, we generally rejoice. It's a happy occasion. You probably wouldn't understand it. But, it's pretty cool. We smile and cry. We laugh and we mourn.

Generally the mourning is for those left behind. Sometimes tragic death makes it harder.

Some, we worry about!! We may not be sure! Some, we know are going the other way and thats terribly sad.

But, Love and Loss is a tough thing.

Answer 8

That's a great question. Even though we know a loved one is going to heaven if they are saved we still mourn the lost of that person being here with us. Maybe it was a bestfriend, parent, a child; you can't exaclty replace one of those right away. We mourn the lost and celebrate the homecoming.

Answer 9

Yes, I agree that we should be happy but since we are human we still miss those who are departed. We sad because we cannot see them anymore in the rest of our life in physical world. I'm sure that if we have channel to contact those we love in heaven, we'll not be sad much.

Answer 10

Sad because the loved one will not be by our side anymore and we must wait for afterlife to be with them once more and that is a long time to wait.

Answer 11

I have experienced several deaths of friends and loved ones during my life. It's not a matter so much of being unsure, as it is a matter of missing the person.
I fully realize that those who accepted the Lord are with Him, and that I will see them again.... but I believe it's difficult to set aside our human emotions in the face of loss.

blessings :)