SO many of my friends have lost loved ones this year.... and many others are experiencing some sort of heartache that seems to feel magnified during this particular holiday. I want you to know that you are not forgotten. You are in the hearts and minds of so many who love you and who have walked this road before you....myself included. This one is for you. *****Loss and Love during the holidays***** On a day like today, when many brace themselves for a holiday without a cherished loved one, I am reminded just how thankful I am for Gods brand of unyielding love and his amazing extension of Heavenly Grace. Whether your loved one is absent from your family table today due to work or other logistic and complicated obligations.... Or whether your loved one happens to be a million miles away due to their innate desire to fight for our country and the moral principles it was founded upon.... Or maybe you have a loved who is absent from your table due to a terrible misunderstanding or unfortunate circumstance.... ....All of these bring pain and ache to the heart. But none of those hurts can compare to the pain some are experiencing for the first time today. For some, today marks the beginning of a hard lesson in moving forward and living with the loss of someone they loved with all of their heart. There are those who are staring at an empty seat today due to an unfair, untimely and unfortunate passing of a great and treasured love. For them, today is a heartbreaking reminder that the empty seat at their family table will never be filled with the earthly presence of their loved one again. The pain is so intense that they can hardly breathe just thinking about it. They feel jipped. They feel slighted. They feel robbed....and they may even feel anger. I know these feelings. I experienced these feelings. And I have great empathy and compassion for those who are now forced to face this hard part of life and loss. HOWEVER... I DO have *Good News* for them. News of hope. News of faith. And news of Great Trust. Heres what I know for sure: Yes. The pain and sorrow are very real. The fear and sadness are also heart-wrenchingly evident in all of the family-oriented events that take place during this special time of year. But, the hopeful and good news is this: There are some discoveries waiting to be experienced that are far MORE *Real*. And they come straight from heaven above. They are: ~ Gods GRACE. This amazing Grace from heaven WILL sustain you.... Always. I promise. ~ Gods GREAT COMFORT. Its true. Gods willingness to bring you comfort in just the nick of time will amaze and astound your soul. ~ Gods EVIDENT PRESENCE. God will very often send in His *troops* to reach your heart and allow you to have a tangible sense of His presence. It may be through words from a friend, a book, a song or a message from your pastors sermon at church... AND, sometimes.... just sometimes, it will be a sight of something that had always been preserved for only you and your loved one. It is a precious moment when this happens. Youll know it when it does. That, too, is God. ~Gods UNFAILING GIFTS~ This comes in two parts: *****First, you will recognize that one of the greatest gifts He allows you is the knowledge that LOVE is STRONGER than death. You will forever feel the love and heavenly presence of your loved one. Its how you know you must continue forward in life with joy, happiness and love in your heart. You realize that part of your obligation FOR THEM is to continue this life-journey in love, joy and happiness. It continues their legacy of love here on earth. *****Secondly, another INSPIRED gift from God is the day (after much time) that you are able to use your loss to help another wounded soul in their own time of loss and sorrow. This, too, is for your loved one. I cant help but imagine how proud our heavenly loved ones are of us when we are able to bless another through all of the beautiful blessings that had been bestowed upon us during our own time of sadness and heartbreak. Its a beautiful thing. Today, I am thankful for LOVE,...whether from those still here on earth or from those who LOVE us from heaven above. All of it is good. All of it is right. And ALL of it is of God. God is Love. Period. So thankful for it.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 19:55:30 +0000
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