This week, I was driving along a busy street, thinking about what I’d do when I got home. I glanced out to my left and remembered what used to be there.

We live in the east part of our city where a lot of growth is taking place. Where once an airport sat with the domed World War II style hangers along the long airport runway, are now apartments. There’s a blank space, and then a hotel.

My late husband was a flight instructor at that airport many years ago. For a few moments, I was struck with deep sadness. I was once again swept back to the sorrow I experienced when he died nineteen years ago. It was a moment that once again reminded me how close I was to God during those many grief-filled months and years.

I wonder if Jesus felt that sadness as he was welcomed into Jerusalem that Palm Sunday so long ago? I think he did. He knew everything and he knew what was coming in less than a week. He knew that in less than forty years, Jerusalem would be destroyed and a million people with it. But in the present time, one week later he would hear at his trial, the crowd chanting, “Crucify him!”

What do I do when I experience these moments of sadness? Well, I “enjoy” the moment. Does that sound odd? If I hadn’t experienced the loss, I wouldn’t appreciate the richness and comfort of the Savior. I wouldn’t have had to turn to the only one who could be near me–the Holy Spirit.  It might sound strange, but I am richer for the losses I’ve experienced in my life. Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us (Ecclesiastes 7:3).

If I remained sad for the rest of my life, it would not be good. Those moments of sadness I felt this past week just reminded me how good my life is and was.  It also gives me a compassion for those who are experiencing the loss of a loved one right now.

I love to laugh. In fact, when my sisters or my daughter and I get together, we can be roaring with laughter over the silliest things. We can’t even explain why we’re laughing. Laughing is good. But it doesn’t have the lasting benefit that sorrow has. Sorrow, though painful, leads to reflective thinking, wisdom, and changed actions that improve our lives and the lives of others.

We aren’t to remain in sorrow and mourning forever. There is, A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4). 

If you are in the time of sorrow–whether you are grieving the loss in death of a loved one. Whether you are grieving the end of a marriage in divorce or estrangement. You are mourning loss of physical abilities in your body. Or estrangement of a child. I recommend you go to the One who understands your grief and sorrow more than anyone else.

When I was a teacher at a Christian school, Friday was chapel day. We’d sing songs together and each grade would quote passages in the Bible they’d memorized. I still remember hearing the sixth graders quote the whole chapter of Isaiah 53. I highly recommend you go to that passage and read it during this holy week.

And on Resurrection Sunday next week, we can joyfully sing “Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Alleluia!” For this Sunday, rejoice!

If you have FaceBook, enjoy the video below. My son is one of the pilots in this video.

https://www.facebook.com/UndauntedAirshows/videos/775715346411382/

Get these Blog posts emailed directly to you.