Romans 15:13New International Version (NIV)13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Yesterday was a great day for our family. My son had a very good afternoon connecting with friends who called him not longer after arriving home from their Florida vacation. These guys are like brothers to him with a friendship that dates back to preschool. I picked up my wife and helped her tidy up the school media center by pushing in all the chairs around the room. Since time was getting away from us I suggested we call our son and offer to meet him at Baker's Square for dinner. The same Baker's Square we ate at when Maria was alive.
Have you ever had the experience where time seems to slip by because you are having so much fun? We had that experience last night. Originally, we entertained the idea of going to a movie since this was the final weekend before our son returned to the college campus for the final quad at his school, but instead we spent the time laughing and listening to each other. As I laughed I could feel the benefits of that laughter on my whole being. My wife quoted a study she heard about the benefits of thinking positively and what it can do to our bodies. To those who first enter the grief thinking positively is not an easy thing to do. To them it is much easier to lay under the covers with a box of Kleenex at your side in a darken room than to take the effort to get up and look at the sunny side of life.
To those who are grieving I encourage you to keep a joy journal. Each day find something that brings a smile to your face. There are many things that will do this if you take the time to find them. Some of the things I did while grieving were taking a walk, having a quiet time in a place that had warm memories with my family (I was able to create new memories), sit out in the sunshine and feel the warmth of the sun, exercise simply by going on a long walk, calling a friend, keeping my long established rituals like going to Sunday worship with my family and being involved in a small group, volunteering, and the list goes on.
As you keep your joy journal you will discover in time you will have a new reason to live. Yes, your loved one is no longer here, but there are other's around you that make living all the more worthwhile. We need each other because grief impacts us all.
The bible is the most amazing book ever written because within those pages are examples of how much God loves his people. The same God who rescue the Jewish people by opening up the sea allowing safe passage from their attackers is the same God who desires to walk with you when your day light turns to darkness.
Go ahead and look for things that make you smile!
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