Grief

I write this post with caution during a time of year when many people are reminded of lost loved ones. As I think about this issue I realize that many people are remembering loved ones and their role in the family, especially as family traditions are relived. My family and my wife's family have always had strong traditions during Thanksgiving and Christmas. My wife and I have blended and expanded these traditions to include unique experiences for our kids. As we remember lost loved ones during this time, I am reminded that we grieve the loss of the relationship of not only those who have passed but also of those relationships that are severed for other reasons (conflict, distance, etc.). This grief is due to more than just the fact that the person is no longer present. It's about the relationship! We grieve because we are relational and therefore, miss the relationship that was developed or developing. God created us to be relational because He is relational. Now, I want to transition from our grief to God's. The Bible tells us to not "grieve the Holy Spirit" (Eph 4:30). You see, when we sin, we break the relationship with God and He grieves. I know how much it hurts when I grieve the loss of someone I love and, therefore, I can imagine only a portion ('cause my love is not as deep as God's) of the grief I cause Him when I seperate from Him. Thankfully, God offers perfect forgiveness to restore the relationship. As you remember lost loved ones and/or broken relationships, take a moment to reflect on your relationship with your Creator and ask Jesus to bring you to restoration through His perfect forgiveness.