We often think of grief and loss only in the context of death, but I have
seen it in all aspects of life. People experience loss when they lose a job, a
relationship, their sense of safety, or even a long held dream. Moreover, the
process of grief often stirs up our deepest hurts and our worst thoughts
about ourselves and the world around us. It brings up all of those things and then amplifies and connects them, weaving a pattern of hurt through our lives.
When faced with someone who is grieving we trip and stumble in our
help or we just run from it. We don’t know what to do. We are left to search for words or deeds to somehow fix it, and we feel helpless. But really, the only thing that can help is being present – being near, being silent, being there
for those who are traveling this unsure and ever-changing journey.
"Sometimes, "Bible bullets" can be deadly. Our hurting friends don't always need our opinion or our Biblical expertise on why things are falling apart around them. Maybe they just need a friend to sit with them and say nothing." -- Rough Cut Men
He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.
"Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus" -- Casting Crowns
Great observation, Michael. From my experience, whether I've been the one grieving or the one who sat beside, that quote from Rough Cut Men is so true.
ReplyDeleteSpot on. And I've seen way too often the number of people who can't do it. In my times of greatest loss, I either had mini-sermons being thrown at me or more likely people just didn't show up at all. They didn't know what to say or do so they just bailed out.
ReplyDeleteBE there for someone. It really is simple.