Today my dear friend is grieving the loss of her precious son.
Hence, I am grieving.
As John Donne observed, "any man's death diminishes me" in a very real way. Somehow, we feel the truth of Donne's statement more when it hits close to home.
I'm going through all the usual stages of disbelief and raw pain.
What? I just saw her a few weeks ago! Everything was fine then. How could this happen? How can I help? What can I do or say that will show this person how much I care?
Then, like a jolt of electricity, There but for the grace of God go I.
I had an argument with my own son this morning. Not a very important argument, surely not worth all the fuss I kicked up. Not worth leaving in a huff as I did, being sure to do my best to make him feel like a worthless piece of garbage.
Surely not worth that. Nothing he could do warrants that kind of treatment.
After I got the news, I picked up the phone and called my son and told him just how much he means to me. I think he understood. I hope so.
This week, I'm doing my best to teach first graders about the God who loves them so much that he sent His only son to die for them. Working in education as I do, one develops sort of an eye for kids who may be headed for trouble. A little too willful. Doing their own thing. Rebellious. Too old too soon.
I try not to label children based on their behavior - people did that to my kids when they were growing up, and it angered me - but there are warning signs that just jump out at you. I find myself thinking, "Lord, don't let me hear that insert name here does insert dangerous or life-threatening behavior here once he sheds his baby fat. Don't let me read about this kid's missteps or unnecessary death down the road. Keep Satan's hands off this child!"
Families are breaking up and society's breaking down. Too many kids aren't escaping the fallout from the world they're growing up in. I pray the kids I'm teaching this week at Liberti Church of Newtown Square's Vacation Bible School will take with them the life-altering news that there's more to this world than this world.
And I pray their all too human instructor will be able to look past naughtiness and see instead hearts that Christ died for 2,000 years ago.
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
Hence, I am grieving.
As John Donne observed, "any man's death diminishes me" in a very real way. Somehow, we feel the truth of Donne's statement more when it hits close to home.
I'm going through all the usual stages of disbelief and raw pain.
What? I just saw her a few weeks ago! Everything was fine then. How could this happen? How can I help? What can I do or say that will show this person how much I care?
Then, like a jolt of electricity, There but for the grace of God go I.
I had an argument with my own son this morning. Not a very important argument, surely not worth all the fuss I kicked up. Not worth leaving in a huff as I did, being sure to do my best to make him feel like a worthless piece of garbage.
Surely not worth that. Nothing he could do warrants that kind of treatment.
After I got the news, I picked up the phone and called my son and told him just how much he means to me. I think he understood. I hope so.
This week, I'm doing my best to teach first graders about the God who loves them so much that he sent His only son to die for them. Working in education as I do, one develops sort of an eye for kids who may be headed for trouble. A little too willful. Doing their own thing. Rebellious. Too old too soon.
I try not to label children based on their behavior - people did that to my kids when they were growing up, and it angered me - but there are warning signs that just jump out at you. I find myself thinking, "Lord, don't let me hear that insert name here does insert dangerous or life-threatening behavior here once he sheds his baby fat. Don't let me read about this kid's missteps or unnecessary death down the road. Keep Satan's hands off this child!"
Families are breaking up and society's breaking down. Too many kids aren't escaping the fallout from the world they're growing up in. I pray the kids I'm teaching this week at Liberti Church of Newtown Square's Vacation Bible School will take with them the life-altering news that there's more to this world than this world.
And I pray their all too human instructor will be able to look past naughtiness and see instead hearts that Christ died for 2,000 years ago.
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
For more like this, check out: Morsels for Meditation...: Grief
4 comments:
As Reenee S,. used to say: "This life is not 'it'."
Amen
RIP with The Lord my sweet baby boy. Sing praises to the Lord for bringing you home safe and sound and granting you eternal peace ❤️
Yes, we are strangers in a strange land. Bless you and your family, Anna. Love you both!
Thanks Thea and I take that welcomed love andgive it right back to you and your family 💜❤️💙💚❤️💗💗💛💙
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