Guest Writer – Sandy Lee Nelson – GRIEF is NOT an emotion that only comes from death. Social Media is flooded with posts about how one can never know or comprehend grief until you lose a child, or until a child loses a parent, or until you lose a husband or a wife, or an entire family. Those who say, think and believe this are incorrect.
Grief does not ALWAYS come from death. Joy comes in the morning.
Grief KNOWS me. For many, many years my grief was buried deep, deep inside of me and it would visit me and devour me like a Brown Recluse Spider bite devours your skin. It was a deep dark secret that I kept on the inside. It robbed me of my childhood, my teenage years and a good portion of my adult life. It not only robbed me but it robbed my family as well. I KNOW grief.
The grief I am speaking of was passed down generationally thru our family’s bloodline. I did not choose it. It was chosen for me. I came into agreement with it and entered into it when I was conceived. It was with me on the day of my birth. It became part of what I thought was my identity. Yet, joy comes in the morning.
My 65th birthday is approaching and I have spent some of this pandemic time reflecting on where I have been, where I am now and where I am going.
I am so blessed that somewhere along my life’s journey I was awakened to the presence of my creator. I have a loving Abba Father who is in the restoration business. Even though I couldn’t feel it. Even though I couldn’t see it. He was constantly working on me. He was continually reaching inside to the deepest, darkest depth of my soul and revealing this grief to me. He walked me thru the process of self examination. He showed me my selfish, self righteous self. He gave me time to see it, admit it, repent of it. He watched me lay it down. He made sure that I didn’t leave any bitter roots behind. He restored that place with His Joy and I learned joy comes in the morning..
Oh…my carnal brain can and still does go back there sometimes, but He is always faithful to remind me that WHO I am now is not WHO I was then.
Yes. Joy still comes in the morning! Hope still walks with the hurting. I am alive and breathing and I Praise The Lord!
Thank you Sandy Lee Nelson for your contribution.
