I was ready to leave by dawn that Sunday morning a few years ago. I was heading out to begin my sophomore year of college. My mom walked me to the door even though she barely had the strength to get out of bed. We hugged, she told me to be careful, and I drove away. It was the last time I ever saw her alive.

It did not come as a tremendous surprise when my mother died, because she had been sick for years with a rare disease. Yet the end still came suddenly, and I felt unprepared. During the weeks, months and years that followed, I was greatly encouraged by the support of friends and family, but at the same time continually aware of an empty place in my life. The immediate pain from the loss is gone, but at every special occasion in life, I notice her absence. Graduations, weddings and new additions to the family—all remind me that she is not there.

However, I am not writing this commentary to seek sympathy. Instead, I want to share with you a great hope that provides a genuinely happy ending to my story. Some of you have already lost a family member or a close friend, and the rest of you will eventually have that sad experience. The Bible says that it is appointed to all men to die once (Hebrews 9:27). However, there is much more hope to life than that.

This time of year, Christians who understand the importance of the biblical festivals commemorate the Passover as the anniversary of Jesus Christ's death. It's a solemn occasion but one that communicates a message of hope because we know that Christ did not remain dead. He rose to live again. Because of what He did, my mother will also rise and live again—and so will every other person who has ever lived on this planet.

Remember Adam from the Garden of Eden in the book of Genesis? As the first human being, he is the ancestor of every human ever to live, including you and me. Well, the Bible also tells us that just like Adam, all of us will die, but in Christ we will all live again later (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Remarkably, the Holy Days of the Bible portray a plan that holds out real hope for every person who has ever lived and died—including family members no longer among us. It begins with the understanding that Jesus' Passover sacrifice made it possible for the dead to live again—to have a fresh start when things will be better for everyone. If you'd like to learn more, then download this surprising article "Why I Celebrate God's Biblical Holy Days Instead of Holidays," and for more details, request a free copy of God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind.

I still miss my mom, but it doesn't get me down because real hope is coming. Celebrating the biblical Holy Days reminds me every year that I will see her again. It also reminds me that I want to live a life that will make her proud. When we meet again, we will have a lot of catching up to do. VT