Faith

Real Scientific Evidence, Understanding Grief and Anger

by Lauren Alan
07/30/16
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Rick got out of bed and hurried into Ashlyn's room. He found her crying with her face buried in her pillow. He sat down beside her and said softly, "Ashlyn, angel, I'm sorry for yelling at you. I didn't mean to. I'm just upset about Joe, and I'm not upset with you for surviving the head injury you got from the tree fall. I thank God that you are alive every day. You're the most precious thing in my life. I don't know what I'd do without you." He rubbed her back gently as he spoke. "Joe never had any children, and he treated me like a son. That meant a lot to me, and now that he's gone, I am so sad and so angry. You see, anger comes with the sadness that comes from losing someone you love. I was angry at the time you walked in with the Scrabble game, and I didn't think about how I sounded when I talked to you, but I do love you, Ashlyn. Do you forgive me?"

Ashlyn turned and nodded, wiping her eyes.

"Come here," Rick said, holding out his arms. Ashlyn sat up and hugged him, and Rick said, "And the reason I was in bed is that I was feeling depressed."

"Depressed?" Ashlyn was confused. She wasn't sure what that word meant.

"That means really, really sad. Sometimes when people are depressed, their sadness makes them tired. I still am sad, and I'll always be, because I'll always miss Joe, but God will comfort me, and He's comforting me right now." Rick picked up Ashlyn and said, "And I have you and Mari and Emmy, and I love you all very much." He kissed Ashlyn and said, "And don't ever think I'm mad at you for being alive. I will never feel that way."

Ashlyn hugged him again and said, "I love you, too, Daddy. You can wait a little later to play Scrabble with me if you want."

Rick patted her head and said, "No, that's OK, honey. I'll do it now."