By VERNA BROCK
This past week, following the celebration of Easter and all the promise it holds, has been one filled with sadness and grief. The loss of another young, shining light in our community has paused the frenetic pace of life. Neighbors gather to offer prayers and support to yet another grieving family, even as their youngest daughter continues to recover. Accidents such as these, with the devastating losses that accompany them, can leave scars that last a lifetime. How do we as a community, and as individuals, respond?
Whether we have a faith to lean into, or simply a heart that shares others’ pain, we each can identify the weight of tragedy when we see it. For believers, prayer is a given. For everyone, we can put our shock and sorrow into action by reaching out. When we are able to give in some small way, we ease our pain. But our responses also envelope the grieving with our love and support.
This past weekend I received word of the loss of another friend, Janet Schneider. After a long battle with illness, Janet left us. She was a devoted wife, mother, nurse and friend. Every day, someone in our small community is gone, and we are left to process and remember. That process seems to ebb and flow as the days slip by. Random things, usually unexpected and small, will trigger memories that flood us with pangs of sadness. But eventually, the sting of sorrow transforms into the warmth of quiet joy. We slowly begin to know gratitude for the time we shared versus the weight of moments unfulfilled.
The journey is always difficult. There is no easy way to find peace when we lose a loved one. I believe we will always bear the scars of losing someone precious to our hearts. The scars will be tender for a very long time, perhaps our entire lives. But we heal, and begin to move forward with small, faltering steps. For those of us watching, our job is to offer the steadying hand, the strong shoulder, to be ready to catch those who feel broken and falling. It can make all the difference in the world to have that loving support!
For me, personally, the first step is prayer. It is where my heart turns, crying out to God to envelope the brokenhearted with comfort and peace. So today, I am praying for them, and all the ones I know to be struggling with the burden of grief. If you feel moved, please join me in lifting the grieving in prayer.
This coming Sunday the Wakulla UMC will celebrate Communion at the 10 a.m. service, followed by a covered-dish dinner. All are welcome to join us! Hope to see you there.