Nov 30 - Psalm 23:4,6

Recently a parent wrote, asking about how to speak to their children about grandma's illness and impending death. Over the next several days, I'm letting you "listen in" to my pastoral advice. So far we have covered the following pieces of advice: 1. Be Honest and Upfront  2. Focus Forward 

Yea, though I walk through

the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me;

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life: and I will

dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23:4,6

3

Grieve Deeply

Have you ever heard someone say, "Christians shouldn't grieve."

In a sense, they're right.

We shouldn't grieve ... like the world does. The world grieves without hope. We have two powerful antedotes: 1) the resurrection and therefore 2) hope.

And yet we still grieve. Why? Because every change produces loss. And every loss produces grief. And grieving isn't a denial of faith. Rather, it's a glorious admission that we have loved deeply ... and we miss the person who was a symbol of that love.

If you have loved deeply, do you know what that really means? God was there!!! (Because God is love.)

So, give a grieving person -- including yourself -- permission to grieve.

In fact, tell them that it may take a full year to stitch their broken heart back together. Indeed, the closer you were to person who died, the longer it will take.

But at the same time, remember this ... The God who wove the blessing of grandma into your life, will see you through the valley of the shadow of death. And in God's hands, laughter, hope, and joy will come again. Indeed, goodness and mercy will truly and again follow you all the days of your life. And you -- like grandma -- shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's loved deeply,

and grieved deeply,

and loved deeply again

(and will grieve again)

(and will love again)

(and will grieve again)

(and ... well, God's love

always gets the final word)