Lessons Learned in Grieving.

 The death of a loved one shows us some things about ourselves, about life, and about God.

Grieving is not a time to be strong. It is a time to be human. Everyone who has loved someone will grieve that loved one's death. It is natural. It is normal. Grieving death is proof that you are human.

Grieving is the way God designed us. God made us the way that we are with all of our emotions. Grieving may scramble or short-circuit your emotions for a while. But God will help you and you will feel better soon.

Grieving is proof that you loved someone. You grieve their death because they meant so much to you. If your spouse can die and you feel nothing it makes me wonder about the bond of marriage that connected you in life.

Grieving the death of a loved one is a time to reevaluate your priorities in life. You will be surprised by how much your opinions change as a result of grieving. Grieving will change you.

Grieving is a journey. It is not a destination. But, there are things about death and loss that stay with you even if you marry again. That spouse who died occupies a unique place in your life that no one else can fill.

People in the throes of grief need us to be there, to be near, and to be quiet. Job's friends were a great support to Job until they tried to fix him.  Quoting scriptures to a grieving saint is fingernails on a chalkboard to them.

Grieving brethren are not contagious. They are broken. Part of them has died. But it is not dangerous to be around them.

When my wife died part of me was irreparably broken. Only God can heal a broken heart. Only time will allow a broken person in grief to heal. It is the only part of life that time can heal.

Jesus wept. So did I.