Grief

An old mentor of mine recently posted her thoughts regarding the school shooting in Texas, but it goes deeper than that. This gal doesn’t post often, but when she does, it’s well thought through and important enough that she wants others to be moved and challenged by her words and thoughts. Not to make others feel like she is right, but to be authentic and to challenge others to do the same.

Her post was regarding the unfortunate tragedy in Texas. However, it wasn’t how we need to ban guns or have teachers use guns. It was about something even deeper we want to avoid. Something powerful.

Grief.

I don’t want to take her thoughts out of context because I want to honor her beautiful and raw process, but I do want to dive into what her post stirred up deep in my soul. Something I have struggled to put words to over the last couple of years.

Grief.

It seems that we as a world have individually and collectively experienced grief more intensely than we ever have. From a pandemic that the whole world wasn’t expecting to the very personal pain, each of us has had to walk through uniquely to our story.

Grief.

It is messy, yet somehow it can also be profoundly beautiful.

Grief.

The seemingly unbearable pain of confusion and loss to a situation we either feared or couldn’t even conjure up on our own. The invisible one-ton weight crashing down on our chest. Discomfort. Fear. Anger. And desperation to get the weight that is suffocating us off of our chest.

But on the contrary, grief is beautiful. Natural. Important.

It’s the powerful minor phrasing in a beautiful symphony. It makes you aware. More alert to the change. Perplexed.

It’s the raging sea in a storm. Powerful and turbulent, but it gives an appreciation of the power of the sea. A sense of respect. A reminder that the raging sea that will rattle a floating city will stop raging and will become a mirror of stillness and serenity.

Grief.

We don’t love to talk about it. In a season of life where it feels like everything is uncomfortable, why would we want to talk about our vulnerable, unsafe, honest grief? It seems to feel safer for us and those around us to hold it in, but at what cost?

Grief.

It is inevitable and important. It makes us stronger and we have to lean on something bigger and more powerful than ourselves.

Grief.

Sometimes the weight seems too much to hold, and maybe it’s because it is. This is a challenge to me but feel free to take it on. Grief isn’t meant to be held by yourself. Lean on the Lord and your community around you. Be honest. Be raw. This will make grief turn from overwhelming into the very thing that will make you stronger. More equipped. And ready to help those around you.