~ "Be Not Afraid..."

Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now,for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. (Luke 6:20-22)


People we love die. Each person experiences the death of another in his or her own way. What someone means to you is not necessarily what they mean to another. The relationships differ with the individuals involved. I talk about death of loved ones in my book. There were many, sometimes, too many to think about. Each one was different. There are some that stick with me more vividly than others.

When Lazarus died, did Martha and Mary tell Jesus that his loss was not as great as theirs? Of course not! He shared in their grief! His relationship to Lazarus was different than that of Martha and Mary, but he shared in that same loss. His love for Lazarus was no greater, nor was it less than theirs was. Each "love" is different and although you may not have the same relationship with the "dearly departed" as someone else, you do experience it with the same intensity. Is a mother's grief for her dead child any different than the grief a child feels at the death of it's mother? Can an uncle's death be as equal in pain as a father's death? Is the death of a woman's husband a greater loss to her sisters and brothers and their spouses than it is to spouses of the dead man's brothers and sisters?

Death is removing the link from a chain that connects us to one another. Each person's place in the chain may differ from your perspective, but it is the same link!

Jesus tells us to share in our joys and our sorrows! He does not want us to "make light of" the grief of others because they were not related by "blood" or did not share the same relationship as someone else. Do not try to understand the depth of someone else's grief - you can't. Accept it and offer comfort. The heart knows no boundaries either in life or in death. Be honored that that life affected someone else enough that it is missed. Be gentle and caring and willing to try and understand their loss as well. Whether you realize it or not, they too, have suffered greatly!

Jesus tells to not to be afraid - that he is there waiting for us. Our worthless flesh will become the dust it came from, but our precious souls will soar with him in all his glory. Put aside your bitterness and your petty jealousies - they aren't nearly as important as you think they are. Forgive those you feel have wronged you intentionally - they may have, but they may not have (only one knows for sure). Love those around you while you have them here - offer them the opportunity to see the face of God if they do not know him. Don't waste your time worrying about the dead - it's too late for them! Pray for the living so that they may "see the face of God and live!!!"

~ "Stop looking at what I didn't do and look at what I've done (or the second half of seven)..."

An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Prov 6:18-19)

When we entertain wicked or evil thoughts, we cannot be also praising His name. You cannot do good and evil at the same time...the bad always overshadows the good. The same is true for our fellow man, our companions and our children. When we look only at the negative (what they fail to do) - we cannot offer them praise (for what they do accomplish). If everything you've ever done has been ignored and the focus has always been placed on what you have failed to do - the message you receive is that you are worthless...that nothing you ever do will be good enough. In those instances, we can develop low self-esteem, and worse than that, we can fall into depression. There is also the chance that we will cease from doing anything positive, since we only gain attention for the negative.

Our constant battle within ourselves to flee from troublemaking, lying and creating conflict in the lives of others can be overcome. We can turn our own tables and eradicate the enemy's grip on us simply by turning to God. Constant focus on His triumphs as opposed to our own defeats can bring about a change that will help us to see that although we may be sinners, we aren't all those things we've been programmed to believe we are. There are certain "triggers" that cause us to react instead of walking away. Perhaps it would be a good idea to limit our interaction with those triggers (or even people). Sometimes we just need to call it a day.

Our hope lies in the cross. That is where all the guilty sins (real or implied, true or imagined) should be laid. The cross offers us the opportunity to ask for and be forgiven. Once we have laid them there, it's time to once again, walk the path chosen for us by God, not those around us bent on watching us fail or fall. Our success also lies at the cross. With Jesus' mighty hand in ours, we can accomplish that which we set out to do through prayer and devotion. We CAN move mountains. Our faith tells us that (as does God's word). When we finally come to the acceptance that the world around us does not dance to the tune of one, when we realize that all we truly have is Jesus - we can make a better, more enjoyable and practical journey - ending our lives and beginning our eternal reward with the words "well done".

Don't play the game anymore. Stop allowing yourself to be put down and discouraged. When you know you've done good - own it! When you know you've done wrong, own that too, ask forgiveness and move forward...but own it in your heart as well as your head. God knows both and He knows your motives.

Make your life one to be admired by others, make your path one to be walked in the company of the King, make your heart and your mind one that is pleasing to the Father.