Last month was a difficult one for those of us at Joy Lutheran.  Two of our beloved members passed on to their eternal rest.  For each, we gathered to celebrate the life of a fine and dedicated Christian.  For each we lamented with the family, the loss of this precious one.  

Yes, we read Scripture, we sang hymns of praise, and we shared personal memories.  We celebrated two lives well lived.  We were comforted by the full assurance that our loving Savior has welcomed them into his arms, into a heavenly kingdom free of pain and suffering.  But, we are human.  And they are both gone.  We will not see them seated in church.  We will not hear their voices.  Two spouses will grieve the great loss in their life.  Perhaps two deaths so close together intensified our feelings.

I could go on about how we will all meet again and how joyful our reunion will be.  All true.  But for now I will settle for giving the families and all of us full permission to grieve.  Our God understands.  He knows that grief cannot be denied.  It must be embraced by each of us, accepted as the very human response to the loss of one we loved and respected.  The waves of grief will come.  Accept them and be gentle with yourself.

As our Lord Jesus spoke in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”  Matthew 5:4

Judy