Luke's Day - 10 years

This has been a rough one, as far as anniversaries go - crying in the shower is not the way I usually start the day.  One would think that as time passes, they would get easier, and some years it has been.  I don't know why this 10 year milestone of Luke's leaving us is so different.  Maybe because I can't believe it has been so long.  Maybe because my kids were so little when it all happened and they don't really remember him, which leads to questions, which leads to really having to think about what happened that day and what led up to it.  Maybe because 10 years has gone so fast.  Whatever the reason, this date will always hurt.  There will always be regrets and questions. 

Knowing that I will get to see him again someday helps, but not completely, because someday still seems a long way off.  MercyMe wrote a song that I heard 10 years ago today for the very first time, which could only have been a God thing.  It's called "I Can Only Imagine" and it still can bring me to tears when I hear it because I automatically think of Luke.  The lyrics are as follows:

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you 

So, today, I will take comfort in the fact that Luke doesn't have to imagine what heaven is like; he gets to experience it instead, as will we when our time comes to join him, whenever that might be. How can that possibly be a sad thing?  Until then, we'll continue to miss him and mark these anniversaries, but when all is said and done, this separation is short in the scope of eternity and what a reunion it will be when we finally do get to see him again.