Grief, Grace, and God
Well, now, Butterbean, let’s pull up a porch chair right over here in the shady part o’ this here porch right by the sweet-smellin’ honeysuckle vine, and make doggone sure you be ‘a-mindin’ that there wobbly leg on that there chair. We gonna be ‘a-doin’ us some real talkin’ ‘bout grief, and ol’ grief is kinda like a sneaky lil’ raccoon ‘a-slippin’ into your chicken coop. You don’t never know when it’s a-gonna be ‘a-showin’ up, how long it’s ‘a-planin’ on stayin’, or what all it’s ‘a-fixin’ to be ‘a-tearin’ up while it’s there.
Before we go any further, let me be ‘a-remindin’ you of somethin’ steadier than a porch swing on a breezy evenin’. Psalm 34:18 says that “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” That there means when grief comes a-stompin’ through your life like a muddy hog that just discovered your clean laundry, God is not hollerin’ from a distance. He’s done right up close, ‘a-holdin’ your heart like it is the last egg in the henhouse.
Revelation 21:4 tells us that “one day God Himself will wipe every tear from our eyes. No more cryin’, no more sorrow, no more pain.” That there is the heavenly equal of the Good Lord ‘a-sayin’, “Alright now, y’all can quit ‘a-mopin’ ‘round. Supper’s done ready; git on home.”
Ol’ grief though, in the meantime, is a real sneaky critter. It’ll jump out at you like a mean ol’ goat that has been a-standin’ behind the barn ’a- waitin’ to headbutt your right in kneecaps. You think you’re ‘a-doin’ fine, then boom, you’re ‘a-cryin’ big ol’ tears right into your cornbread.
But here’s the ‘sho-nuff’ good news, Junebug. Isaiah 53:3-4 says that “Jesus was a man acquainted with deepest grief. He carried our sorrows.” He done knows the weight of a heart that’s ‘a-feelin’ like it’s been sat on top of by a big ol’ full-grown hog. Psalm 56:8 says that “ He keeps our tears in a bottle.” Now, I don’t know what size bottle He’s ‘a-usin’ for me, but I suspect it’s someplace between one of them lil’ mason jars and a cattle trough.
I done once heard ‘bout Roman tear bottles, tiny lil’ ol’ jars folks used to be ‘a-savin’ their tears when someone died. Well, I done reckon God has His own version o’ one o’ them there tear jars, an’ He’s a whole lot better at ‘a-keepin’ track o’ things than me. I can’t even keep up with my own left socks.
And here is the real sweet part. Psalm 147:3 says that “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” Then 2 Corinthians 1:4 reminds us that “He comforts us, so we can comfort others.” That there means your grief journey, as hard as it is, gits to be like one ol’ them there lanterns you carry for somebody else ‘a-wanderin’ through the darkest woods at nighttime.
So, Buttercup, what has this here ol’ grief done looked like in your life? Has it been like an ol’ sneaky possum in the pantry or an ol’ mad Texas Longhorn bull penned up in the barn?
Lord, You’re ‘a-seein’ every tear we done cry. Thank You for ‘a-carryin’ our sorrows, for mendin’ our hearts, and for givin’ us strength to comfort others. Be ‘a-helpin’ us to be trustin’ You with every ache and every memory. In Jesus name, Amen.
Now go on, step off this porch real gentle-like. Grief may be a wild, mean ol’ critter, but the Lord is the One ‘a-holdin’ the leash. And even when it gits to feelin’ like that sneaky critter is ‘a-runnin’ in circles ‘round your soul, the Lord is right there ‘a-steadyin’ you. One day you gonna look back and be ‘a-seein’ that every doggone, shaky step was ‘a-bein’ carried by His strong, steady hand.
With joy,
Gwen
