Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted
Today, as I read Warfare by Honor, by Qaumaniq and Suuqiina, I read the chapter on ‘Grief as Honor’.
I encourage you to read the book. In this chapter, they speak about the ‘wiping away of tears’ ceremony practiced by many native tribes. In this ceremony, people are encouraged to speak of the good memories they hold of the deceased, and to pray for the family.
Some have taken this practice to an IMO, (In Memory Of) that sends out an inquiry to all the friends and family of the deceased, to encourage each of them to bring forward good memories of the lost loved one, often monthly, until there is closure from the grieving process.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted
There is a time to weep with those who are weeping, to gently walk with them through the valley of the shadow of death.
We must believe that there is a sovereign God who really does love us, and that even this, will bring some good into the world…
Let’s pray:
‘Father, help us to honor those who grieve, to gently walk with them, bringing comfort, grace, and peace to them and their families, as they process the loss of their loved ones. Help us to be sensitive to You in this Lord Jesus, tenderly loving your people as You show us how. Amen’