Monday, December 7, 2015

The Stories Have It Wrong



The rain soaked through my shoes
And the cold breeze against my face
 Drops of rain and salty tears
Mixed together and fell to the ground
The pain of all I'd loved and lost
Washing over like an ocean of grief
Minutes ticked by
Rain fell harder
I knew I had to get up
To make the walk back
But going back meant life kept moving
Here I had a solace
Almost as if
Nothing had changed at all


The stories have it wrong
When tragedy strikes
When you lose those you love
The world doesn't stop
 Nothing changes
Everything remains the same
 Each morning still brings a new day
Each evening a close
 But now there is a void
Something - someone - missing
But the world continues around you
Blissfully unaware of the pain you feel

The stories have it wrong
When tragedy strikes
When you lose those you love
You don't forget your other struggles
They remain
Sometimes they grow
With each new goodbye
A previous goodbye awakens anew
And though this new sorrow
Overwhelms all else
Your tears are for so much more
As if you never healed

The stories have it wrong
When tragedy strikes
And catches you unaware
Your world doesn't stop
And even though you want to
You don't stop either
Because you fear if you stop
You will never start again


I gave one last long sigh
And forced myself to get up
Though the wind blew harder and the rain heavier
The two mile walk back seemed shorter
I reached my front door
And knew life was still moving
Though my heart weighs heavy
And though this goodbye still leaves this hole in my heart
I continue on
Clinging to the One who I know grieves with me
Who remains faithful through it all
Who has promised to never leave nor forsake me
I cling to the shelter under His grace and mercy
And the comfort found in His love
And still raise my hands in praise
For in my weakness, all the more can I glorify His precious name


The stories have it wrong
When tragedy strikes
When you lose those you love
It's not the end
For those who are in Christ
It is merely a temporary farewell
And a cause to rejoice
For this wonderful hope of eternal life
The hurt is still there
And the tears still come
But we still have this unending joy in Christ
That encompasses our very being
 

"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.” -Job 1:20-21

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