A time to mourn

"A time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance,"  Eccl 3:4

I received a box of books from Amazon today.  They were recommendations from friends on the subject of grief.  A couple of hours later I got a call from a friend telling me that another friend had passed away unexpectedly.  I was grief stricken, but in an odd way prepared.

In God's providence He leads me into situations that He has done the preparation for.  It doesn't make difficult circumstances easy, but it deepens my faith.  I know that I am not without a guide as I walk through valleys of the shadow of death, or change, or difficulty, or whatever lesson God is working out.  It doesn't give me the magic words to mend someone's broken heart, but it does give me a great compassion for the loss that they have suffered.  It gives me perspective, and a better idea of what they truly need.  They need understanding, prayer, patience, and support.

I'm learning to appreciate the good days, the uneventful regular routine of life.  When affliction comes, it puts everything into perspective.  The things that are important stand out, and the things that are trivial fall away.  The people around me are eternal, and all the other stuff is just stuff.  I have gathered some quotes that I will be posting soon.  Tonight my heart is broken for the Williams family, and I will be offering many prayers on their behalf.