May the grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, surround you. He is the Father of Compassion, the God of all comfort. He consoles us as we endure the pain and hardship of life so that we may draw from His comfort and share it with others in their own struggles. 2 Corinthians 1: 2-4 The Voice
Days of sorting through vintage pictures, looking at old slides, viewing albums with wrinkled photos. Discovering family history from newspaper clippings, obituaries, and letters.
Surprises in the findings. I laughed and cried. Closed in my house with the memories brought back the grief.
Obituaries testified to many losses. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, a cousin. All left behind grieving loved ones. I felt regret. Until I faced my own grief, I never knew the extent of theirs. I didn’t do enough to comfort those left behind.
To get away from the sadness, I left home to visit a new friend who just entered hospice care. In her room, grief overcame me again. Memories of my parents in hospital beds. Alan with oxygen. Their frailty matched hers.
Even in her weakened state, she hugged me and comforted me. What a blessing she was.
At home on my patio, I watched the sky dim. Gentle rain peppered the lake. My tears joined the flow.
For days, I had stopped them to mask my grief. But built up emotions overflowed. At dusk, they came freely.
The mirrored lake quieted me. Surprise beams of sunlight glowed on the landscape across the water. A rainbow arch crowned the trees. Cardinals whistled. Frogs croaked.
God’s presence wrapped my grieving heart. In my sadness, He provided a touch of healing light.
Father, thank you for providing a hug and kind words through your people. Your creation offers comfort and healing. Amen
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