Thank you Pastors for candidly sharing your hearts here. I've suffered several losses in the past five years each one having a deeper impact. I have had an array of emotions to say the least but one thing you all agreed on in this episode I can also relate & agree on is the fact that it doesn't get better with time! I actually cringe when I hear people say this. We do however learn how to keep going and cope with the pain we carry. I spent the last year in counseling and of course Scripture, prayer and meditation, it's funny when PJ referenced Psalm 34 God being near the brokenhearted I looked it up began reading the entire chapter because he didn't reference the vs and when I got there had already had it highlighted. Another thing I've also learned about my grief is it's not only the people in my life that have passed but there is another level I face. Grieving those souls that IMO may not have surrendered to the Lord, or the fact that my life was spared as where my friends lives weren't on the night they were hainously murdered. That can at times have me in a place of guilt. I'm still dealing with grief but this specif loss involves forgiveness of the men who murdered my brother. I know what God's words says about forgiveness and it is true in everyway but it's still difficult for me to get there. 😢
This was very helpful. I have not lost a parent yet, but it is on the horizon and I am losing them a little at a time. It also helps me have a better understanding of what my friends have and are going through. Jay you may remember Mike Rock. He passed away a couple weeks ago so this will be the first holiday for his family (Jennifer, Chris, Ryan, Randall & Rachael- can't remember who was in your class). A good follow-up discussion might be to help those who have lost an unsaved loved one, or if the relationship was "complicated". I remember after my unsaved grandpa died someone telling me about the joy he felt thinking of his mother in heaven.
Thank you Pastors for candidly sharing your hearts here. I've suffered several losses in the past five years each one having a deeper impact. I have had an array of emotions to say the least but one thing you all agreed on in this episode I can also relate & agree on is the fact that it doesn't get better with time! I actually cringe when I hear people say this. We do however learn how to keep going and cope with the pain we carry. I spent the last year in counseling and of course Scripture, prayer and meditation, it's funny when PJ referenced Psalm 34 God being near the brokenhearted I looked it up began reading the entire chapter because he didn't reference the vs and when I got there had already had it highlighted. Another thing I've also learned about my grief is it's not only the people in my life that have passed but there is another level I face. Grieving those souls that IMO may not have surrendered to the Lord, or the fact that my life was spared as where my friends lives weren't on the night they were hainously murdered. That can at times have me in a place of guilt. I'm still dealing with grief but this specif loss involves forgiveness of the men who murdered my brother. I know what God's words says about forgiveness and it is true in everyway but it's still difficult for me to get there. 😢
This was very helpful. I have not lost a parent yet, but it is on the horizon and I am losing them a little at a time. It also helps me have a better understanding of what my friends have and are going through. Jay you may remember Mike Rock. He passed away a couple weeks ago so this will be the first holiday for his family (Jennifer, Chris, Ryan, Randall & Rachael- can't remember who was in your class).
A good follow-up discussion might be to help those who have lost an unsaved loved one, or if the relationship was "complicated". I remember after my unsaved grandpa died someone telling me about the joy he felt thinking of his mother in heaven.