Grieving . . .

A friend, Hatch Bailey, posted a quote on his facebook page and it rang so true.  Hatch's wife, Yvonne, died from cancer a number of years ago.  He is very honest about his grieving and I have learned a great deal from his willingness to be so.  I have had several close friends die as well as family members over the years and my grandmother just passed away.  Grief is just part of this journey.

Of course, there are other kinds of grieving as well.  Loss comes in many different forms.  

the death of a dream

the death of a plan

the death of a job

the death of a relationship

Perhaps you have moved or someone dear to you has moved away.

Perhaps you have someone in your life who is physically present but can no longer emotionally connect.

Perhaps you are dealing with a health issue that has altered your daily life.

Perhaps your life just doesn't look like you imagined it at this point and you grieve what might have been.

Here is the quote:

Grief never ends . . . but it changes.

It's a passage, not a place to stay.

Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor lack of faith.

It is the price of love.

I'm going to add that it is the price of living!  Loss and grief are as big a part of living this life as gain and joy.  I found this quote encouraging because it reminds me that there is healing and life beyond our grief.  It reminds me that the ever changing face of grief is not a betrayal but rather another stop along the journey.

Through our grief, if we allow the Lord to be ever present, we will find strength.  

Our faith will actually increase rather than decrease.  

We can afford to pay the high price of life and love because ultimately, we pass along the bill to the One who can pay it in full.

In Revelation 21, we find these amazing promises.

"Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, 

and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,  

and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; 

and there will no longer be any death; 

there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; 

the first things have passed away.”

And He who sits on the throne said, 

“Behold, I am making all things new.” 

And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

I don't know where you are on this journey.  I don't even know why this struck me this morning.  There are just some days when the emotion of loss bubbles up unexpectedly. 

Be encouraged.

Your grief does not go unnoticed.

You have taken account of my wanderings; 

Put my tears in Your bottle.  

Are they not in Your book? 

 Psalm 56:8