God has a way of putting people in my path where I least expect them...
Last week my youngest son Jake had some volunteer work to do. I am a parent driver so I was also volunteering. The first home was that of an older woman and her husband and we vacuumed and dusted as she requested. As I was finishing up I saw a display case of butterflies and somehow I just knew this woman had a story. I commented to her about the collection and she showed me a precious figurine as well, as we talked she told me she had lost a son 36 years earlier. His name was John and he had fallen in a construction sight and passed away due to injuries. She told me that her and her husband made a point right after the accident to continue living their life, they even took polka dancing classes. What was so difficult to hear though was that a traveling Pastor took her husband to lunch shortly after the accident, he had heard about the death of their son and wanted to talk to him privately. The result of the meeting was that this man never went back to church after that. He would not share with his wife what was said but it was evidentally the completely wrong thing because he still has not returned to church in over 36 years.
Again last week I was at a play practice Jake was having and began carrying on a conversation with another parent. They told me they had a patient that was 88 years old and she had lost her daughter over 40 years ago. This woman was still angry at God, was not speaking to God and that she would never forgive God for taking her daughter. Wow, that is a lot of anger and sadness all rolled up into one.
The point I want to make is that there is so much pain with losing a child and I do not want to be angry and bitter for the next 30 plus years. Are you that person? Are you so angry at the words someone shared with you that you have walked away from God? Or maybe someone said the right thing at the right time that helped keep you strong in your faith? Are you blaming Him for your child's death or are you thankful that you know where your child is and cannot wait for that reunion?
People say and do the wrong things all the time, especially when it comes to death. People are stupid and sometimes heartless, but I say "There by the grace of God go they" because they don't "get it" and I truly wouldn't want them to understand 100%--for if they "got it" then they would have also lost a child. Do not let the ignorance of other's change your faith, change your direction, change who are. The entire reason I wrote my book Flower's on a Child's Grave, Now What? was because a close friend compared the loss of her dog to the loss of DJ and I didn't want other ears to ever hear that if I could help it somehow. I took that stupid (but meant well) comment and created something positive out of it. Don't let others hinder who you really are. Don't let others make you feel more pain than you already do. Be strong my dearest friends, rely on friends, rely on God do not take on other people's words and pain. Again, there by the grace of God go they, and there by the grace of God go we.
Sidenote--I would like to thank all the people that came to my latest book signing. It is always a pleasure to meet you and you all definitely minister back to me. Lisa--forever DJ's Mom
Last week my youngest son Jake had some volunteer work to do. I am a parent driver so I was also volunteering. The first home was that of an older woman and her husband and we vacuumed and dusted as she requested. As I was finishing up I saw a display case of butterflies and somehow I just knew this woman had a story. I commented to her about the collection and she showed me a precious figurine as well, as we talked she told me she had lost a son 36 years earlier. His name was John and he had fallen in a construction sight and passed away due to injuries. She told me that her and her husband made a point right after the accident to continue living their life, they even took polka dancing classes. What was so difficult to hear though was that a traveling Pastor took her husband to lunch shortly after the accident, he had heard about the death of their son and wanted to talk to him privately. The result of the meeting was that this man never went back to church after that. He would not share with his wife what was said but it was evidentally the completely wrong thing because he still has not returned to church in over 36 years.
Again last week I was at a play practice Jake was having and began carrying on a conversation with another parent. They told me they had a patient that was 88 years old and she had lost her daughter over 40 years ago. This woman was still angry at God, was not speaking to God and that she would never forgive God for taking her daughter. Wow, that is a lot of anger and sadness all rolled up into one.
The point I want to make is that there is so much pain with losing a child and I do not want to be angry and bitter for the next 30 plus years. Are you that person? Are you so angry at the words someone shared with you that you have walked away from God? Or maybe someone said the right thing at the right time that helped keep you strong in your faith? Are you blaming Him for your child's death or are you thankful that you know where your child is and cannot wait for that reunion?
People say and do the wrong things all the time, especially when it comes to death. People are stupid and sometimes heartless, but I say "There by the grace of God go they" because they don't "get it" and I truly wouldn't want them to understand 100%--for if they "got it" then they would have also lost a child. Do not let the ignorance of other's change your faith, change your direction, change who are. The entire reason I wrote my book Flower's on a Child's Grave, Now What? was because a close friend compared the loss of her dog to the loss of DJ and I didn't want other ears to ever hear that if I could help it somehow. I took that stupid (but meant well) comment and created something positive out of it. Don't let others hinder who you really are. Don't let others make you feel more pain than you already do. Be strong my dearest friends, rely on friends, rely on God do not take on other people's words and pain. Again, there by the grace of God go they, and there by the grace of God go we.
Sidenote--I would like to thank all the people that came to my latest book signing. It is always a pleasure to meet you and you all definitely minister back to me. Lisa--forever DJ's Mom
So sad and so true. We are so vulnerable at the time of our child's death.
ReplyDeleteI had a lady at church tell me that "sometimes it takes a lot sometimes for God to wake us up". I was furious. That was 25 years ago. I choose to believe that she was ignorant. Since then she has had a grandchild with cancer, and I'm hoping she has learned a kinder gentler way.
I decided that I did not want to waste all the hurt and pain from my son's death. I wanted to turn it into good somehow. However - it did take 2 years to reach that point.
Keep writing.
I can relate to the stupid comments. I wish that people would just give me a hug or squeeze my hand instead of trying to come up with words of comfort.
ReplyDeleteJanet, I am glad you have not since said something harsh to that woman, it is hard not to want too! We learn to be compassionate on different levels don't we? Sandi, I agree, a hug is worth a thousand words and worth more than five stupid words!!
ReplyDelete