The Loneliness of Loss

 Today I want to talk about loneliness in the context of the death of your spouse. There is a loneliness of loss that is hard to explain and hard to bear.

First, there is the isolation of grief. When a man is in the throes of grieving the death of his wife he becomes isolated from those around him. No one knows what to say or do so they say and do nothing. Some people are afraid that maybe you are contagious.  I went through the hardest time of my life feeling isolated and alone. Fortunately, it didn't last forever.

Second, there is the loneliness of loss. This is a longer phase of life after loss that never goes away. It is the loss of someone who understands why you think like you do. It is the loss of someone with common reference points about people and places. No one knows you better than your spouse. No one can appreciate things you see and hear like your spouse. A new wife would not fill the emptiness that you feel now.

This is not a topic a pastor can preach about. Unless you have gone through this you won't understand what I'm talking about. But one day you will understand.

Grieving is proof that you loved.