GREAT JOY FOR ALL (Even Grieving) PEOPLE
Several weeks ago, I was having a conversation with a friend, and I found myself telling her that I felt God wanted me to “Grieve Joyfully”. Now I’m not saying that tears will subside, and everything will be sunshine and rainbows, but something that has stayed with me since Michael left this world is as “Believers” we should handle everything differently.
Being a “Believer” says God’s presence is real during my darkest moment, life in God is stronger than death. In Him I can say I do not despair because He is my reason to hope and walk in sorrow and joy.
At Immanuel Church on the first week of Advent, Pastor Barnabas Piper read from Luke 2, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:8-10
That phrase, “I bring good news that will cause great JOY for ALL the people” seemed to jump out of the monitor at me. “All” meant even grieving people, my heart was so full because it was God reminding me to “Grieve Joyfully”.
Even if my eyes are filled with tears while singing "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Joy to the World", I can smile and have joy amid my sorrow because I loved hearing Michael’s voice singing with me and that memory brings joy to my heart any day. How wonderful to think that he may be singing with the choir of angles, and has possibly met the Archangel Michael for who he was named after – that surely causes me to smile. And as I’m writing this, I can hear Michael saying, “and ‘Smiling is your favorite, Mom” (quote from our favorite Christmas movie "Elf")
I have read many books on grief and all of them give us freedom to grieve and mourn for as long needed. I was recently told that it’s not good to judge each other’s grief and to just respect where a person is on their journey. However, this is not true if you handle your grief well – it seems that people would rather have others continue to be depressed because maybe that shows that you miss your loved one more.
I’m going to miss Michael Joseph every day for the rest of my life, and I allow my tears to flow when needed "but God" (a phrase that has been with me throughout this season) caught me at the very beginning. He constantly reminded me that Michael was a gift, and because of my assurance that my son was a believer in Jesus I walk in the full confidence that I will see him again. Psalm 139 has been special to me since my early years, I would have never thought that it would be there for me in the passing of my beloved son. Jan. 3, 2022 was his day to go Home and I know he is doing wonderful things in Heaven and I look forward to hearing all about them.
In honoring the wonderful life that Michael lived, I want to continue living my life the way we did together:
LOVING GOD:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind Matt. 22:37
To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength Mark 12:33
LOVING OTHERS:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I Cor 13:4-7
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gal. 5:22-23
BEING THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL:
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Col. 3:15-17
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I Thess. 5:16-18
“Grieving Joyfully” does not mean that I will be as optimistic as I have been or laughing as much as I use to (I miss Michael's laughter so much), I just don’t want to be living a life filled with gloom and doom when I know that God’s Love is stronger than death. I don’t want to be imprisoned to the sad reality that Michael is no longer here, I want to celebrate the memories of the time shared and because of him being my son I learned so much about Joy that I need to hold onto it and at times contend for it.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
James 1:2
I love what Henri Nouwen says, "Joy is based on the spiritual knowledge that, while the world in which we live is shrouded in darkness, God has overcome the world. Jesus says it loudly and clearly: “In the world you will have troubles, but rejoice, I have overcome the world.”
Yes, I will "Grieve Joyfully" because He has overcome the world.