It has been quite a week. Losing a sweet lady in our church that was both a shock and a blow to everyone. I think the beauty of having known her was seeing how many lives she has touched over the years. She was the Executive Director of Christian Women’s Job Corps until last year and many of her students were at the funeral. Ladies that may have been considered “unlovable” or “worthless” before… Denise loved and gave encouragement to. They are now productive citizens and raising their own families.  There in her funeral service stood the testament of her work and love for God.

Someone sent another friend this excerpt from the Beth Moore Bible study, “James: Mercy Triumphs” – “Our devotion to God and true religion is illustrated most poignantly on the pages of other lives. That’s where much of our story is told. We think we want this massive biography written by God with our name as the title, but His way is a much better read.”

This morning, I would like to share this video.  This is ringing in my heart today. 

Knowing You – Northland Media

For more great videos… visit Then Sings My Soul Saturdays.  God bless you.

This has been some week.  Two funerals this week.  Attending one today, of a sweet lady that I loved.  The other of a dear lady that had grown weary in age. 

Two families, two completely different losses.  Our church family has been in shock over the loss of Miss Denise and we are all dealing with it in our own way. 

One of the things I have learned after working in the ministry off and on over the adult years of my life, people always have an opinion on how you should handle the loss.  Gotta love that. 

Every person has their own way of dealing with death.  It usually comes from their own life experiences up to that point.  It also depends on the relationship with the person. 

There are family members that people lose and are able to deal with their loss better than someone they saw or spoke to every single day.

Part of our responsibility as church staff is to listen to those that stop by the office or call.  This week the calls were many as people were waking up to the news of the loss of our sweet friend.  So many lives were touched by “Nee Nee” and the shock of a tragic accident taking someone so young… that was just not sinking in for people.

We listen to those that need to talk.  We love them.  We comfort them and allow them to grieve in their way.  Grief is a part of the healing. 

Yes, we celebrate that Miss Denise won the race.  That does not stop the mourning.  That does not stop the grief.  However… we have to allow for the sadness and the mourning.

Ecclesiastes 3:4

⁴ …a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance, …

Thank you Lord, that you allow us to walk at our own pace.  You give us time to get through those tough moments and you never, ever leave us but hold us up through the pain.