I recently went on a trip to Pennsylvania. It was midwinter and there were thick snow drifts alongside the main road. The magic of the winter wonderland was not lost on me and I wanted to take photographs. Passing a cemetery, I looked at the rows of graves covered in snow, with the wind blowing snow across the desolate landscape. Immediately I thought of the finality and coldness of death. People long gone planted beneath the frozen sod, covered in a blanket of snow. And yet this picture gave me hope as well.
In Psalm 116, the psalmist says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is his loved ones, he does not let them lightly die.” This has certainly been a comfort to me when beloved family and friends have died. Paul also said in Acts 13:36 “For David, after he had served his generation according to the will of God, he died and was buried.” We all have a God given purpose to serve our generation, leaving our footprint in the hearts of our family and friends. When our time is done and our work is complete, we are called home to our eternal rest.
We certainly have questions when a loved one is called suddenly, but it is not why they are called we should question, but how can we use this suffering to be healed in our hearts and how can we help others to heal who have been through this experience? My pastor told me Christ is unveiled in suffering when my fiancée took his own life. The suffering he went through with depression and the pain he left for his family to work through as he left this earth has enabled me to have compassion for those facing similar situations. The long journey through illness and dementia of my late husband taught me so much about having patience and the trauma caregivers have to work through, caring for their loved ones.
These experiences have certainly given me the insight and the compassion to walk with others through this rough patch on their journey of life.
Job certainly had a lot of grief to process in his life. Job 24:19 He said, “Death consumes sinners as drought and heat consume snow.” Looking at the graveyard deeply covered in snow, I could imagine the time when the sun would melt the snow and the grass would grow green and plants and trees in the graveyard would start to send out shoots. Job also said ( Job 37:6 } For he directs the snow, the showers, and storms to fall upon the earth. and cause the grain to grow and to produce seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry”. Yes, when the coldness of death and grief has been processed those green shoots of life begin to grow as we take up life again. This is also a time for growing in new directions and being able to produce a crop of goodness that will feed others.
This journey of grief takes time and maybe you are starting to feel the green shoot stirring in your heart and would like to pick up the pieces of your life again. if you would like me to walk with you through this stage of your life, please get in contact with me through my web page www.crossingmybridges.com, I would love to give you a map and guide posts to help you find your way.