Gratitude Despite Grief

And regardless of what you put on, wear love. (The Message Bible)

May The Holy One take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God's love and Christ's endurance. (paraphrased from The Message Bible)

I call Thanksgiving "Gratitude Day."  This is the first Thanksgiving without my dad, and my brother's family is in the Middle East right now, so it will just be my mother and me together for this holiday. I am missing Nina and so many other people who have died in the past few years. I am very grateful for many things, but I feel grief too.  This may sound odd, but while I miss all these people, I feel grateful they finally experience peace.  (This is my belief system.)  All of the people I know that died were miserable during their last days.  I love them all, so I do not want people to stay in this realm if their lives cannot get better.  Even though I espouse hope, I do believe there comes a time for everyone on this Earth when it is time for them to transition to a higher plane.  Death is a part of life here on Earth-it cannot be avoided.  I do not believe that it is the last word though-all the people I loved are still sending me love and comfort-I just cannot see them with my eyes, but I feel them in my soul.

I've started writing more prayer-poems again (go buy my book, Hope Is Real: Radical Recovery Prayers) Here is the last one I wrote - I hope that it provides some comfort if you are struggling this holiday season too.

Psalm 2: 12b

Happiness comes to those

Who make God their refuge!

~~~~~~~

Dear Grieving Soul,

You will find the good if you rest in God.

You will find peace one day.

Let yourself rest in the Holy One’s arms-

Lay your head upon Christ’s bosom

And listen to the Holy Spirit’s lullaby

“Sleep, my child, and peace attend thee

All through the night.”

 

Rest is restorative and so are tears

Let them caress your heart

Honor your departed loved ones by giving thanks

Know that they are still with you-

They are sending you delightful blessings.

 

O God,

Cradle me and wrap me in your grace and love

Replace my sorrow with dancing-

Remind me that joy comes in the morning.

Remind me that there is a morning to my mourning,

A sunny sky to my darkest night,

A bird that breaks the silence of my heart.

“Hope is the thing with feathers-

That perches in the soul-

And sings the tune without the words-

And never stops- at all.”

A picture from my patio I noticed yesterday.  It made me feel hopeful.