"His words echo in the hearts of those who have genuinely suffered, reminding us that lament is not a failure of faith—it is a faithful response to pain. Jesus does not rush past Good Friday. He abides in it with us."
My husband and I have been taking about this very thing today, we have suffered the worst heartache - our only child/son Michael Joseph died in a terrible accident a bit over three years ago at age 15. Our almost perfect life was turned upside down "but God" was Faithful to give us truth all along the way.
My husband said today, "that we have a deeper understanding of today b/c our grief" as I told him that it kinda bothered me how some churches are turning today into a production b/c they can't handle sitting in the silence of what this day is and sadly just how so many of our "christian" friends didn't have the capacity to just sit with us.
All I know is that I'm very thankful for the Lord, we couldn't have made it without him.
I have no words regarding your loss except, "I'm so very sorry." I cannot imagine the grief of losing a child under any circumstances.
To your husband's wise insight about grief, it is striking that among the eight core emotions God gives to us to process life in a fallen, sometimes tragic world -- gladness, sadness, hurt, anger, guilt, shame, fear, loneliness (per Chip Dodd in "Voice of the Heart") -- only one of these is not a "hard" feeling. It's as if God has equipped us, for now, to process the sorrows of this life in a rich variety of ways.
I wonder sometimes what our emotional portfolio will be in glory, after "everything sad comes untrue" (Tolkien) and "heaven works backwards, turning even agony into a glory" (Lewis).
Chip Dodd's teachings on feelings has helped us immensely.
I shared your comment with my husband b/c he and Michael are big Tolkien and Lewis fans (used present tense with Michael because Randy Alcorn explained why we should).
God has been so Faithful to bring such wonderful resources to us along the way of this grief journey.
Very thankful to come across your post during this season of life.
"His words echo in the hearts of those who have genuinely suffered, reminding us that lament is not a failure of faith—it is a faithful response to pain. Jesus does not rush past Good Friday. He abides in it with us."
My husband and I have been taking about this very thing today, we have suffered the worst heartache - our only child/son Michael Joseph died in a terrible accident a bit over three years ago at age 15. Our almost perfect life was turned upside down "but God" was Faithful to give us truth all along the way.
My husband said today, "that we have a deeper understanding of today b/c our grief" as I told him that it kinda bothered me how some churches are turning today into a production b/c they can't handle sitting in the silence of what this day is and sadly just how so many of our "christian" friends didn't have the capacity to just sit with us.
All I know is that I'm very thankful for the Lord, we couldn't have made it without him.
Dear Stephanie,
I have no words regarding your loss except, "I'm so very sorry." I cannot imagine the grief of losing a child under any circumstances.
To your husband's wise insight about grief, it is striking that among the eight core emotions God gives to us to process life in a fallen, sometimes tragic world -- gladness, sadness, hurt, anger, guilt, shame, fear, loneliness (per Chip Dodd in "Voice of the Heart") -- only one of these is not a "hard" feeling. It's as if God has equipped us, for now, to process the sorrows of this life in a rich variety of ways.
I wonder sometimes what our emotional portfolio will be in glory, after "everything sad comes untrue" (Tolkien) and "heaven works backwards, turning even agony into a glory" (Lewis).
Now and then, I pray Jesus will hold you close.
Chip Dodd's teachings on feelings has helped us immensely.
I shared your comment with my husband b/c he and Michael are big Tolkien and Lewis fans (used present tense with Michael because Randy Alcorn explained why we should).
God has been so Faithful to bring such wonderful resources to us along the way of this grief journey.
Very thankful to come across your post during this season of life.