Hope in Spring

Going through a hard time? Grieving the loss of a loved one? Grieving a marriage gone sour?  Grieving the loss of your spouse’s cognitive abilities? Grieving the loss of a job? A home? A lifestyle? An empty nest? Even a rosy sunset!

Grief seems to be a part of most any day…

I always feel a bit sad when I know the blushing, pink, blue, and gold sky will soon turn to darkness. Silly isn’t it? Or is it? Grief seems to be in most part of any day. I don’t want you to misunderstand, dear reader, if you are going through deep grief. Believe it or not, many things in life are grief! What’s important is what you do with that grief. This morning, I was struck by something I’d underlined several years ago in one of my devotional books. I like what this Presbyterian pastor wrote more than one-hundred years ago:

Sorrow causes deep scars, and indelibly writes its story on the suffering heart. We never completely recover from our greatest griefs and are never exactly the same after having passed through them. Yet sorrow that is endured in the right spirit impacts our growth favorably and brings us a greater sense of compassion for others. Indeed, those who have no scars of sorrow or suffering upon them are poor. (J.R. Miller, 1840-1912)

Take heart..

If you are that person who is in deep grief, I hope you take heart. If you are wincing at the sunset and wishing it would stay longer, take heart. Grief will make you better. Give you compassion for others……Maybe just not now….

Pussy Willow gives hope….

This week on one of my walks, I snapped this beauty. A Pussy Willow. Its soft buds are so hopeful. I pray their silvery beauty will give you hope. Those gray buds will turn into green. Just like your grief will change. In this time of sorrowing whatever it might be, take heart in life.

I like another poet from the Psalms:

the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done. (Psalm 118:16B-17)

You are still alive.

You are still alive, though perhaps you would rather not be. Take hope in the above verse. You are alive. Now live.

There’s hope.

Enjoy the day with all of its challenges. There’s hope.