I was perusing one of my favorite websites, MaryJane'sFarm, and was looking at the different posts that had been made. I posted on 3 different ones. All three had something to do with the loss of a loved one. I offered words of support and understanding, and when I was finished I found myself not feeling low, but strengthened. That seem odd to me. But then, I was reminded of these verses in II Corinthians.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. II Cor. 1:3-5
I have felt and am feeling what they are. These are gals I have never met, probably never will. But the pain is the same. The emptiness, the feeling of the holidays approaching knowing that one will not be there. One gal lost her father this spring, another mentioned it had been 3 years since her mom had died. Time wasn't the factor, it was the void and the sorrow it brings. I wrote my words hoping to give some help, a bit of my own sorrow and comfort to ease their hurt.
It must have been my day to minister to others, something that I really haven't done in along time, because of my own grief. This morning at church as we were having our worship in song, one of the songs that we sang was one we had played at Dale's service. It is called I will rise, by Chris Tomlin. It is a good song, one that my girls and I have yet to hear on the radio during this year, and not shed a tear. Hearing it hit Autumn and I, I think more so her. As I pulled her close to me, the tears stung. I had no words. How do you comfort an 18 year old girl in the loss of her Papa? How do I hold her heart, to buffer the hurt? I can't. All I could do was hold her. It didn't seem like enough.
All I know is that God's word it true; His comfort is in abundance, and all I can hope is as I give comfort to others they will be strengthened, as I am.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZCk8pXozU4&channel=christomlinmusic
May you be strengthened, may you be comforted.
I heard that song for the first time the day after my father died; in fact it probably hadn't even been 12 hours. I was driving back to mom's. It didn't leave my heart for months, it's truth replaying itself over and over in my heart. I even posted it here: http://beequilting.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html when no other words would come.
ReplyDeleteThe grief at times would feel unbearable and I would be reminded of God's love; His plan; and His strenth. Amazing.
You are a comfort to me...how blessed I have been!
It is a great song. Powerful words. Amazing we will day be singing praises like it to God in person. Boggles my mind. Hugs to you.
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