After exiting the school bus one autumn afternoon, I walked the short dirt road distance to my front door. Inside, my mom waited. The principal of my elementary school had phoned her. She wanted to speak with me about it. I had gone missing at recess.
Next door to my elementary school’s playground was the town cemetery. My paternal grandfather had died during October and he was buried at the east end of the graveyard, not far from the school grounds. I have no memory of this, but Mom said that the “recess lady,” (our neighbor) had searched all over for me, finally finding me next to my grandfather’s grave.
That was fifth grade. My grandpa was the first funeral I’d gone through. No one told me that he had gone to Heaven, only that he’d died. My father never cried, never spoke about it. Grandpa was 54, dead from a heart attack.
In our society we’ve been taught not to cry, especially men.
But Lord Jesus wept about the death of his friend Lazarus when He saw the emotional pain Martha and Mary went through. (John 11:35)
In our society we’ve been taught to repress our feelings, especially men.
But Lord Jesus, alive in the flesh, experienced sadness, he was known as a “man of sorrows.” (Isaiah 53:3)
In this life we go through many problems which affect us emotionally. Emotions left bottled up turn into depression, mental disturbances and even suicide.
Because The Lord has lived this life and experienced its worst, He understands our frame, our weaknesses. Cry when you need to. Show your feelings of sorrow. Let them out. Speak to Lord Jesus and to another safe person about what you’re going through.
Your words are heard by Lord Jesus in Heaven. They come up to Him as incense and are kept in golden bowls. Our hands lifted to Him, He sees as an evening sacrifice. (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8)
He’s here to catch your tears and put them in His bottle. He acknowledges every one of your tears, recording them in His book. (Psalm 56:8)
Speak to the children in your life about what they’re feeling. Acknowledge them just as God acknowledges us. Reassure them that God is in control. Tell them about where their prayers go and about Heaven.
One afternoon after I was grown and had my own children, my spouse and I pulled back in to the Goodrich cemetery. I wanted to visit my grandparents’ grave one last time before returning south to Florida. I opened the side door of the rental van. My young children, so innocent of death and sorrow, jumped out and ran across the green summer grass shouting “A park! A park!” They loved the peacefulness, the trees, flowers and the nearby pond. A beautiful resting place for souls gone to Heaven.
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(C) 2020 Kelly Jadon