Grief .. Part 563

June 15, 2023September 21, 2023 / The WheatandTares

The journey of grief seems so long, so treacherous, and so methodical.

If you dwell too much on the journey, you’ll wander along the creek side, lost.

Never stopping for a drink.

The water continues to flow along the path, and it is for your refreshing, your renewal.

For the journey is hard, and it’s not meant for eternity.

Stay alert and remain vigilant in the middle of the walk.

Stay revived and maintain the elements to survive.

Grief is like a thief if you’ll allow him to be.

He will steal days, years, even hours and minutes

He will steal joy and peace, prosperity and comfort.

Don’t let him stay too long, or he will even steal your sanity.

You can’t shut him out; for then, he will only come back with gained force.

But don’t open the gate wide to welcome; for he will consume all territory that is lonely.

Fortify the good within and remain watchful.

Maintain the gates with prayer, steadfastness and faith.

Let him walk through, but swing open the back door with a celebration and fanfare.

For he will always peek through the windows and the trellises, but he cannot set up to abide.

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?” When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore, I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar.
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
Psalm 42

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”
1 Samuel 16:1

Grief … Part 495

June 14, 2023September 21, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Grief can be like a bull in the field.

He looks all nice and cozy, chewing his cud, minding his own business.

But don’t get too close, or you’ll feel his horns.

That bull goes about his day, grazing, watching, or just lazing around.

But you get into his sight, and he’s liable to gorge you.

That bull has a family, or maybe he’s a loner.

Leave him alone.

Don’t prod him.

Don’t prick him.

And certainly, don’t pet him.

He’s there to do his thing, and he will come and go as he pleases.

Just keep your eyes on him.

Never let him out of your peripheral view.

For that is when he will sneak up for the kill.

And you’ll be fortunate to survive the pounding.

Let him roam.

And keep your vision clear.

Learn from every encounter but try not to remain.

He will move on down the pasture when it’s time; although, he will always be there.

Just let him roam further and further.

But never let him out of your sight.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
2 Corinthians 3-7

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
2 Corinthians 12:7

Grief … Part 294

June 13, 2023June 13, 2023 / The WheatandTares

It seems funny to give a title to grief as if I am numbering sheets of paper, but yet, how else do you list it?

Grief is evasive and yet, it is so invasive.

Grief is like a cool, summer rain, and yet, it’s like a torrential tsunami that barrels in with no warning.

Grief is both bittersweet and just plain sour.

And when grief comes by new forms and methods consistently over the years, it gets hard to dissect the good in the pain.

Just hold on.

And pray.

A lot.

We were not made for this world.

We were not made for this grief, and that’s why it’s so foreign. That’s why it’s so hard.

We were made for an eternal world, and we will be there before we know it.

He’s coming back soon.

Just hold on and be ready.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5

Grief … Part 243

June 12, 2023June 11, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Grief has so many aspects; sometimes, it’s just hard to keep up.

And when death has hit three years straight, the emotional roller coaster is full of surprises.

Today, it’s just hard.

And heartbreaking.

And enraging.

Hard because there’s so many shattered pieces, and nothing can be mended.

Heartbreaking because there’s so much lost, and nothing can be reconciled.

Enraging because there’s so much stolen, and nothing can be returned.

If perspectives remain only on the loss, the heart becomes sick, and the soul becomes hopeless.

Despair will settle in like a long and bitter cold rain.

But hope remains.

The only Hope that can be grasped.

Eternity is not bound in this day and time.

Destiny is not restrained by this hour and by the ticking of the clock.

Mortality is not for the Everlasting One nor for those who serve Him.

So, look up not down.

Look forward not behind.

The minutes are coming faster and soon will end and then,

True life will just begin again.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
1 Corinthians 15:51-55

Is She a Keeper?

June 1, 2023May 29, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Find that one who will be there when tough times come.

Find that one who will show up in the rain and ride the tide.

Find that one who will remain when everyone else walks out.

Find her or him, and don’t stop till you do.

Don’t settle for second best.

Don’t settle for leftovers.

Seek till you find and don’t rest till you do.

It’s worth it.

I promise.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
John 15:13

Keep Climbing

May 31, 2023May 29, 2023 / The WheatandTares

No matter where you are in the climb, keep climbing.

If you’re just starting out, keep climbing.

If you’re half way there, keep climbing.

If you’ve reached the top, either climb your way down and back up again,

Or find another mountain to conquer.

Just keep climbing and never give up.

Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Isaiah 43:18

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Keep Hoppin’ Those Boulders

May 30, 2023May 29, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Grief is like the boulder hopping moments of life.

To succeed in getting to the sunset, you’ve got to keep moving.

To achieve the goal of the setting horizon, you’ve got to keep taking the jump.

To get past the hardest points, one foot must stay in front of the other.

Even if you slip. Even if you stumble.

Keep going forward. Keep going beyond.

You’ll get there.

Eventually.

And you’ll be so glad you did.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.
Psalm 37:23-24

Never forget

May 29, 2023May 29, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 1 Comment

Thank you for your time.

Thank you for your effort.

Thank you for your sleepless nights and endless days.

Thank you for your nightmare and your gut wrenching heartache.

We will not forget your sacrifice.

We will not forget your pain.

We will not forget all that you gave;

So, we could live free.

I’m sorry it cost you so much.

And I am eternally grateful.

We will never forget.

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8

Let Your Heart Grieve A While Longer

May 25, 2023May 24, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Sometimes, things just don’t turn out as they should.

Sometimes, dreams are stolen, hearts are broken, and everyone is left desolate.

Sometimes, life just sucks, and there’s not a lot of change you can bring.

Don’t shut off the pain.

Don’t hurry up the emotion.

And certainly, don’t act as if it never happened.

Just grieve a while longer.

Just let the tears roll down into a river.

Walk out to the shoreline and breathe a little deeper.

Step out on that mountain and sigh a little louder.

There are no rules that should confine.

There are no restrictions that should bind.

There are no expectations that should be resigned.

Just let the grief roll on until it’s run its course.

Just let the pain push through until its done.

Let your heart grieve a little while longer until it heals.

Let your soul exhale a little wider until it can stand.

And when the healing comes and the strength returns, stand tall and begin to run again.

And it will come.

Someday soon.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Psalm 34:18

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
Save me, and I shall be saved,
For You are my praise.
Jeremiah 17:14

For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.” ’
Jeremiah 30:17