Receiving all of this news all at once has kind of stunned me and opened my eyes to how much suffering is happening all around me, that good people are not immune to tragedy. I ache to love and comfort and yet know that each of these individuals has to pass through these trials in their own private way. It's part of our mortal journey, I know that. But it pains me to think of the quiet hours of anguish and sorrow that my family members and friends must endure.
As I have thought particularly about my sweet mission companion losing her little boy, my mind has taken me down the surreal road of how it would feel to lose Eliot, how I would possibly cope, trying to imagine all that my friend has been experiencing these past few months. One afternoon as I was contemplating each of these recent tragedies, I felt humbled to realize how much sorrow I have been spared in my life. Sure, I have had my own difficulties, and my life is far from perfect. My own family has experienced our own source of grief and agony, but nothing in comparison to what I see happening currently in the lives of those I love. Who's to say what will tomorrow will bring for me and my family -- I'm realizing, as I see observe these sorrows as an outsider, that things can change so quickly, that life can change in an instant. So for now, I humbly and gratefully recognize how merciful the Lord has been to me. Maybe because He knows what a wuss I am and that I could not bear any of those particular sorrows.
So what do I do for my suffering loved ones, besides try to express love and sympathy, to provide a listening ear or whatever service I might render? I'm not sure what to do. The injunction to "bear one another's burdens, that they may be light," has run through my mind over and over again lately, but I'm not quite sure how to best do that given the magnitude of these losses. I welcome your suggestions of what has helped you most in your own moments of loss or grief. For today, I am at least counting my blessings. Glad for each day that passes that we're together, healthy, employed, fed, housed -- all of the things that I probably take for granted far too often. Grateful for the gospel that provides hope and perspective, and hoping and praying that my faith would and will sustain me through the challenges of my own mortal experience.
Among my blessings, I am counting my knowledge of this great truth: "And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold, I say unto you that he shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise" (Moroni 7:41).
2 comments:
I am so sorry you have had so much sadness shared with you. As far as advice since I have experience many tragic deaths the best thing is a hug. Some times you want to just cry and that provides that opportunity. Other times you are able to talk and vent, but a hug and just saying I was thinking of you today is the best words, not how are you because they are horrible, but just to know someone is thinking of you and praying for you means so much.
Do you have any good news to post yet? ;-)
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