Thanksgiving in Grief
When we lose someone we love,
our natural response,
naturally,
is the overwhelming
awareness and sorrow
of the loss.
This is normal.
This is expected.
This is the epitome of grief.
As I have walked
my own journey
of grief,
I have been
knocked off my feet
time and time again
by this natural response.
Thankfully, each time –
by the grace of God –
I landed on my knees.
I found myself
bent low
before my precious Savior –
the very one
acquainted with my sorrow.
The man of sorrows – Jesus.
And thankfully,
each time,
by the grace of God –
I was reminded
of the precious gift
I had been given
in the one I lost.
This remembrance
stirred up
thanksgiving
in my heart.
And through tears,
I thanked God
over and over.
My thanksgiving
shifted the focus
from what I
no longer had
and placed
the eyes of my heart
back on what
I had so graciously
been given.
It caused me
to start
counting and naming
all the blessings,
all the memories,
all the precious moments.
It didn’t take away the sting of death.
It didn’t take away the emptiness left behind.
It didn’t take away the hurt or the heartache.
But,
it did
keep my heart
tender towards my God.
It kept me
drawing near
to the One
who had blessed me
with my love.
My thanksgiving
kept my heart
from growing bitter.
If you have lost
a loved one –
someone
so precious to you,
pray for God
to meet you
in the natural response
of grief
with a supernatural response
of thanksgiving.
Pray that your grief
will always take you
to your knees,
to the one
who will help you
find your way back up
as you give thanks.
For what I have discovered is this:
When it comes to grief,
thanksgiving is the pinnacle of healing.~
~Stacy
