Love, Life and Grief

The greatest love people can show is to die for their friends. John 15:13 ERV

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.                     2 Cor 1:4 NLT

We associate the words of Jesus about dying for our friends to be all about physical pain and death, but I would suggest there is another dimension which is equally important, evident and valid. We can also die inside, piece by piece, through emotional loss until we can become a shell of our former selves. Unless…..

I have the pleasure and honour to watch, first hand, love in action from the unlikeliest of sources, humanly speaking that is, and I am constantly humbled. It is bad enough when a health disaster hits a family, but when death and grieving happens on top of the ‘partial’ loss of a much loved spouse, how do the remainder of this family cope? The ones who remain to grieve and care seem to have an abundance of love in their hearts. So much so that they can give comfort to the one who needs it most, and only because they have already received a supernatural amount of comfort from the only one who can give it at a time like this. God.

Names are not important, and I know both of the men involved would not want that. You may know someone like this, or you may already recognise these good people. They don’t give love and care because they want the recognition, or to be noticed by their friends. No, they provide the comfort for a partly lost wife and mum, as well as the loss of a dear wife, for one reason, and one reason only. Love. They find it as natural as breathing, and it shows the heart of a loving God, living and working through them. How else can you explain it?

What happens behind that closed door may be another thing, but right where love and comfort are needed, they are freely given, without a thought of their own grief and pain. I consider it a privilege to have been counted as a friend down through many years, but most especially now. Have you ever noticed that the ones who hurt the most, also give the most? Ask anyone, but particularly think and pray for this husband and son. They know the answer. I pray that God will continue to grant the level of inner strength and peace necessary for them to continue to love and comfort for as long as they are needed. Will you join me in a loud amen?