Lessons in Joy from a Child's Funeral

I recently had the honor of being at the funeral of Micah Kim, the five-year-old son of my friend Paul J. Kim. And I don’t use the word honor lightly.

Because while the pain of losing a child is unimaginable…what I witnessed there was just as unimaginable: JOY.

At Micah’s wake, Paul stood next to his son’s casket—his little body dressed in cowboy boots—and he pointed and said:

“That’s my son’s body. He’s not there. My son is alive.”

Paul said they gave Micah the greatest gift a parent can give: baptism. His passport to heaven. And then I watched this family walk down the aisle behind the casket—hands on it, tears streaming down Paul’s face—and his other hand lifted high in praise as we sang Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

Listen to my reflection to hear how Paul's witness of joy in the face of tragedy and Micah's brief life are both tied to the truth of our baptism—that we are beloved children of God and he wants us to live forever with him.

In baptism, we are sealed in this identity and receive our ticket to heaven. We just need to lean into his love and let his grace transform our lives.

Our days here are numbered. But heaven is real, it lasts forever, and you don't need to prove yourself to earn God's love. Receive it!

Follow Paul J. Kim on Instagram to see how God is already using Micah for his glory: https://www.instagram.com/heypjk

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever witnessed faith lived out powerfully in the middle of suffering? What impact did it have on you?

2. Do you think our culture understands joy the way Christianity does? Why or why not? How does the Christian understanding of hope differ from simply “staying positive”?

3. Does your baptism shape your identity? What does it mean to you that, at baptism, the Father looks at you and says, “That’s my son. That’s my daughter”?

4. Where in your life do you find yourself trying to earn God's love or prove your worth? How can you work against that mindset?

5. What can you do this week to live like holiness is your top priority? What needs to change?

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