Thanksgiving is upon us and what a mixed bag of emotions! As we gather together with family and friends there are not many of us who do not feel the impact of missing family.
Family is missing for multiple reasons, but we all have old memories of those who once were who are not.
The sadness that takes the place of those loved ones can indeed be debilitating at moments.
There are losses of every kind in families and grief is an unwelcome intruder who must be dealt with.
The change in family structure due to divorce can be a staggering separation for many and is only minimized by the fact that though beloved family members may be absent at holidays and birthdays they are still on this earth and hopefully doing well.
Grave illness and grave handicap are yet another source of sorrow for many and a different type of suffering for loved ones.
We as humans have all types of sorrows that can separate us from loved ones, sometimes that can even be long distance relationships.
Then of course there is the empty nest and the broken ness brought on because of divorce and those struggles weighing on a single parent and the custody and visitation that the family suffers, however gallantly.
There are many changes brought about in life and death is the only one that is final. Life for those bereaved by loss of all kinds brings about a whole gamut of often emotional struggles.
What can we do? We can realize the living. The present. What we have, not what we have lost. Be active in living helping to lay groundwork for a solid foundation always for those who are in your circle of influence, the family that God has given you. The old passes away and life is always renewing in families. Honor each other in your own sorrows and losses by realizing we all suffer them at one point or another.
Most importantly in all these things it must be remembered that as written in Nehemiah http://biblehub.com/nehemiah/8-10.htm The joy of the Lord is your strength and again in Psalms http://biblehub.com/psalms/28-7.htm The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust in him and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
By mediating on just these few verses you can find the way to joy of the Lord. Don't hesitate. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
I love you and my prayer for you is that you find comfort, peace, and joy even in the times of sorrow and live your life to the fullest walking in paths with the Good Shepard.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/esv/psalms/23.html
No comments:
Post a Comment