When we grieve...

---

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
~ Philippians 4:7
​

The title of the sculpture is "Grief" and is located at the Texas City Memorial, Texas City, Texas, in memory of the those who grieved the blast in 1947 that killed several hundred people in the community.

All too often we hear the words, "time heals," when referring to a loss. I am not completely sure about that.  In our American culture, we somehow expect people to be "back to normal," just weeks after a loss.  When my stepmother died over a decade ago, I read several books on the grief, the loss of a parent, and what to expect.  While everything I read described many things I had experienced, I continued to grieve her death.  Today I realize that grief, for many things, is a life-long process.

But when the expression "time heals" means that faithfulness in a difficult situation can lead us to a deeper understanding of the ways we have been hurt, or hurt one another, then there is much truth in it. 

"Time heals" doesn't necessarily imply that I am sitting back and waiting for the magic of time to soften or remove the situation, but instead, facing the pain and trusting in the possibility of forgiveness and reconciliation.

A friend of mine has suggested that "time accepts."  Perhaps that provides a better understanding at this point in my life.

​Stay in God's grip!

​"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
~ Philippians 4:7

---

Dear Lord, I have heard others pray to You to help them accept the things that they cannot change.  Please help me when I encounter those moments in my life, and give me peace while You hold me.  Amen.

---