Have you had your JOY JUICE today? It will help you through the grieving
process. And all of us experience that
at some point.
Grief is a
part of life. Many times we find it
difficult to know what to say to someone when they lose a loved one. Pastor
Rick Warren and his wife Kay recently experienced the death of their son,
Matthew. Wise words from this hurting
father were:
In the first shock of an unspeakable tragedy, don’t speak. Hug them! Weep with them! Just be there. Use touch, not words.
According to The American Cancer
Society, here are few other suggestions about how to help friends after the
initial grief.
- Acknowledge the situation & express your concern. Example: "I'm so sorry to hear that this happened to you."
- Be genuine in your communication and don't hide your feelings. Example: "I’m not sure what to say, but I want you to know I care."
- Offer your support.
- Don't assume you know how the bereaved person feels on any given day.
When we find
ourselves grieving, one of the best things we can do is turn to the scriptures
and focus on God. He promises in Jeremiah 31:13 “I will turn their mourning into
gladness. I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.”
We can always find hope in Jesus. He will give us comfort and strength…and turn
our mourning into gladness.
Excellent advice. And, I might add that saying "Call me if you need anything" while generous, is rarely taken to heart. A person grieving doesn't usually reach out and let people know what they need, because a lot of times the grieving person doesn't even know what it is they need. So it is safe to assume they need a shoulder to cry on, and ear that hears them and food to eat. Thank you Joyce for your insightful messages!
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