Hello Friends,

As I started thinking about my next blog, I knew what I wanted to write about, but as soon as I sat down, I had another pressing thought.  Grief.  Such a small word but filled with so much pain. Whether you're grieving over the loss of a loved one due to death, or life circumstances, grief is hard.  I met some friends for lunch today.  As we were talking, it hit me, the date, in just two days it will be the anniversary of my mother's passing.  Six years, so much has changed in six years.  I think of all the things she has missed, the positive (at least 10 new babies, which she would have loved) and also the negative (the passing of my grandfather and Uncle B).  I think of how much love she had for her family.   You always knew what she was thinking, sometimes because you just knew, but also because she had tell when she disagreed.  You could just look at her and know.  But she always let you know she still loved you.  She had so much love for her family.  It's been six years and my heart still grieves, not like it did in the beginning, but still very painful at times.

However, as my counselor would say, we still need to move forward.  She's made it a point NOT to say to move on but move THROUGH the grief.  It is unhealthy to push down the pain or pretend it's not there; to ignore the heartache, or to fill the void with something else. You need to work through those emotions.  When you start feeling the grief, allow yourself some time (set a timer if you need to) to grieve, to feel, and to breathe.  Then after the time is up, think about something else, not to ignore it, but so it doesn't drag you down into a pit of despair.  I've shared before that I suffer through depression.  I know that feeling of loneliness, so I know dwelling on the grief is unhealthy.  Dwelling is not MOVING, you have to keep moving.  If you don't feel the grief easing (it may not go away, but should be easier to live with), I strongly encourage you to get counseling for your own mental health. 

In the Bible, we know Elijah had some depression, Read 1 Kings 18-19 for the full story.  Elijah felt alone.  He thought he was the only person left to follow God (This is the Old Testament).  We also can tell by reading the Psalms that David struggled as well, how many Psalms start out similar to Psalm 13?  Verse 1 says "How long, Oh Lord? Will You forget me forever?"   I would read that as depression.  David had a lot of grief in his life, as did Job.  Yet they still praised God.  They still called on His Name.

Despite the grief and the pain, we too should call on His Name.  Jesus understands our pain, remember Lazarus?  John wrote "Jesus wept." when Jesus found out Lazarus had died.  Yes, He brought Lazarus back to life, but the point is, He knows grief.  He knows anxiety (He sweat drops of blood in the garden before He was betrayed).  As the song says "Jesus knows our every weakness" (What A Friend We Have In Jesus).  We may be working through our grief but if you have accepted Jesus, He will walk right beside you every step of the way.  While He doesn't take the pain away, He soothes us in our sorrow.   Grief is hard, Life is hard, but we have Jesus, and we have each other to get through.  Find Christian friends, a support group, or another outlet for your grief, do not bottle it up.   While in person support is so important, feel free to e-mail me if you need additional support.

I am a follower of Christ, I am not perfect, but I love Jesus.

Until Next Time,

Liz Allen