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