Most of us would be shocked if we knew how many of the people areoud us are experiencing grief in one for or another. Besides the grief experienced by family and friends when someone dies, there are many other reasons and expressions of grief that go without consolation.
Think about your own lives: the loss of a beloved pet to death, news of a loved one's recent diagnosis of a life threatening illness, loss of jobs, additional income that paid the extra bills, separation in a relationship, feeling that God is no long near by, loss of confidence in our ability and/or in that of our employer, pastor, friends, spouse. This is still only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to identifying grief.
When we recognize our own grief and/or that of others, we must emphasize and encourage the need to enter into prayer and the handing of our grief over to God as a co-healer of our grief. Most often we will find a friend, pastor, spouse or other person who physically acts for God. We can tell our stories, open our hearts and souls, share our fears and concerns and receive non-judgemental consolation.
It is essential that we live our lives open and ready to be helpful to those experiencing grief, be that a kind word, a small gift, a time for them to share their conderns, offers of uplifting Scripture, communal worship and many other means.
We are not alone. God is with us always and most often in the person of other persons making our way through life. Thank God for small community experiences.
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