Walking Through the Holidays With a Grieving Heart
Welcome to week 2 of our 4-part series. I’m glad you are here.
As we continue our journey closer to the holidays, we are unpacking some truths about embracing our grief. If you missed last week, you can access it here.
Here’s a brief overview of what we are working through. We are unpacking number 2 today.
Grief Truths:
Grief will be painful.
We must be patient in it.
Grief is a personal journey.
We must choose to be present in it.
We must be patient in it.
Is anyone out there a patient person? If so, please help me. I can’t be the only one who doesn’t enjoy being told to “wait” or “be patient.” To have patience is a tough prayer to pray. Because often we enter a moment in which our patience is tested or an experience in which we have no choice but to be patient and trust God.
When we are grieving a loss so close, it's hard to understand patience. It’s hard to take it one moment at a time because everything we once knew is now different. Navigating all that comes after losing a loved one is painful and chaotic. No one prepares us for it. It’s not anything we could imagine.
As we know, grief is painful. Walking through this uneasy time will be and is very hard. Therefore, we must be kind to ourselves. It's in moments like these that we must be patient with ourselves and with each other.
No grief journey will be identical, not even for members of the same family. To give yourself grace is not being selfish. Take the time to do a soul search and see where your heart is. Truly know how you are doing on a deep level, not a surface level “how are you.” It’s okay if it seems like it is taking longer than you expected to “get back on track.” Grief has no timetable and the journey can ebb and flow much like waves on the ocean.
Patience is a virtue as we see mentioned in the New Testament. To achieve this virtue, we will find that some work is involved. I know for myself, to be patient about any season requires diligent work.
Choose to walk in this difficult season, with your head held high. You may encounter many difficult days but have hope for what God may have on the horizon.
Trust that with each passing moment God is working in your life to give you the strength you need to literally put one foot in front of the other. Don’t rush your journey and don’t feel as if you have to be someone you cannot be right now. Give yourself permission to grieve. Give yourself permission to be in the moment and to feel all of the feelings. Give yourself permission to say NO to all the activities. It is okay to be you.
Grieve with the Hope of Heaven. Know and cling to God’s faithfulness with everything that you have and everything that you are. Trust the God who is writing your story. And keep those precious memories oh so close.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 NKJV
