Grief Hits

by Susan Mead, in category Faith

Grief hits most people completely unexpected.  One day life is routine, maybe even mundane, and then suddenly the ground is ripped from under foot leaving a powerful emotion in its wake.

Books to read while grieving a thoughtful list on Reading List

The thing is that for some, the process is one that must be traveled alone… or at least with the companionship of another person.  (Yes, I know there is a great community of believers that have a calling to lift each other during times of grief and burden, but the emotional journey, that is one that people cannot fix.)

So how are we supposed to pick up and move forward?

When the pain and sorrow from loss hit, there is one thing we all know, we have to find a way to move forward.

The Lord has promised to comfort those who are mourning.

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 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.     2 Corinthians 1:3-4

So in those times when you have to journey through the pain with Him alone you might find yourself picking up books to pass the time and anchor you while the storms of emotions run rampant.

Books for those in the storm

  1. The Bible – specifically Psalms… and so many more…
  2. A Grief Observed  by C.S. Lewis
  3. Death’s Door: Modern Dying and the Ways We Grieve  by Sandra Gilbert
  4. Dance with Jesus: From Grief to Grace by Susan B Mead*

As the initial wave passes, a thought that has buoyed many as they travel through grief is wisdom from one famous fictional character:

“The best thing for being sad,” replied Merlyn, beginning to puff and blow, “is to learn something. That is the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder in your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewer of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then—to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it.”    The Once and Future King by T.H. White

In time you will venture into the world of those who love you and want to comfort you. And because of your time in grief with the Lord, you will be able to soak up their encouragement.  Just don’t be fearful of curling up with the words of others to help in those initial times of torment.

My Flesh and My Heart might fail.... Psalm 73:26 shared on Grief reflection on Reading List

When you have been struck into chaos in grief, what book did you pick up? What book did someone recommend?

Marissa Author at Reading List
 We are honored to have Marissa sharing her words with us today during the 28 day Birthday Beach Bash and Book Tour celebrating what would have been
Kyle Mead’s 28th birthday on August 27.
Marissa is a daughter of the King, an emotional mother of three, a loving wife. She spends her time trying to balance life as life picks up speed each year. Part of that balance includes writing over at Reading List where she focuses on writing book reviews from a Christian mother’s perspective. She loves the blogging community and would love to hear from you, so stop over and say hi.