Tuesday 28 April 2015

Changed Forever!



Within the last 3 months I have lost both parents.  In fact they passed away 30 days apart.  In those 30 days I was orphaned; I became the patriarch of the family.  Life changed forever.

Grief affects people in all sorts of ways – it is not uncommon for there to be physical side effects such as headaches, nausea, itchiness, sleeplessness, cold sores etc.  On the emotional side there can be such a sense of loss and desolation that the loved one can experience a sense of darkness, fear and loneliness.


To some degree I experienced some of those physical and emotional effects of grief.  I still am dealing every day with the loss and will continue to do so for a very long time to come - possibly always.


Everyone has to deal with such losses, for death is no respecter of persons, reputations or ages.  In the good providence of God our loved ones die suddenly or slowly and life becomes different overnight.  And life takes on a “new normal”.  I now have to live in the new normality of being without parents for the very first time in my life – as I noticed obviously when on my birthday a few weeks ago, I was without a “son” card for the first time in my life.  Above all though I have experienced grace – in many different forms.  I have felt the overwhelming support of God’s people praying for me.  I have experienced kindness in dozens of ways, in comments and cards and coffees and callers; in messages and emails; in freezer food and practical gifts. 


The grace of God appears in many forms.  Above all I have known God’s grace in reminding me again that nothing ever really stays the same for any of us and life is constantly moving on.  So I, like you, had better make it count for something that really matters!