“Would it be possible
for us to meet for lunch?” Her voice quavered as she fought back
tears. She had come to the book reception because she knew the other
author, but she came to speak to me.
“Yes,” I said,
recognizing the desperation.
We met that week, and have met regularly since then. When I spoke of feeling as
though I was living outside of my body in the journey of grief, she felt
a connection. She was walking a living grief. Her son had been
diagnosed at age nine with a severe mental illness, the youngest in
the province. The changes began when he was only eight. Initially,
when she took him to the doctor, the doctor asked her what she
thought; she feared he had brain cancer or a mental illness. She
expressed that brain cancer might have been the better diagnosis. Now
she felt as though she was viewing her life from outside of herself, it was the only way she coped. My words were a lifeline tossed.
The gifts of grief
... can there be such a thing as gifts of grief?
When the time's ripe, I
answer you. When victory's due, I help you. I form you and use you to
reconnect the people to me. Isaiah 49:8 The Message
I have had opportunities
that would never have been possible in my previous life. My prayer has been that God bring the people into my life that I should cross paths with. And He has continuously answered that. After publishing
my book, grieving individuals have spoken to me and thanked me for
writing so openly about the grief experience.
In July 2013, I received a
message via my author Facebook account:
Hi
Jocelyn,
My
name is Judy H and I live in Adelaide, South Australia. I just read a
post on Facebook put on by Fresh Start about your book. I went to the
site about your book and the circumstances of our lives are so
similar that I felt I needed to write to you. I will try to get a
copy of your book (I read the bits that were on the site).
I
work for Fresh Start in Adelaide as Outcare Worker (SA). This in
itself is ironic. I am a Christian. In April 2007 my son Josh and his
wife Raya were killed in a car accident on Highway 17 (I think it
was) near Dreyden (not sure how to spell it) Ontario. Raya was
Canadian and Josh Australian. They had been living in Calgary and
were moving to Quebec, but died half way across. All their furniture
was in a truck in Toronto. We flew to Calgary to attend their
funerals and to bring back Josh's possessions.
I
really identify with some of your journey that I have read so far. My
most helpful books were "A Grace Disguised" by Jerry Sitser
and "When God doesn't make sense" by James Dobson.
The
similarities that we have propel me to write this message to you.
Just wondering if you would be interested in corresponding over
facebook at all.
Meanwhile,
I will try to get your book.
Sincerely
...
Judy
H ...
This
letter started an international friendship ... we have met both in
Canada and in Australia. God has opened many doors along the grief journey for many chance encounters, ones that would
not have been possible in my former life.
I
would appreciate your prayers for June 3, and 4. I have been asked to
run a grief workshop. I have been given free reign over the topics
and the format. This is an incredible opportunity, and I have prayed
for the right words to be spoken through me.
Last year for
my birthday, a very dear friend gave me the painting seen at the top of
the blog. The simple painting has a powerful message. We are
vessels, to be filled and then spilled out into the opportunities
given us.
Fill
me, Spill me ...
Jocelyn
is the author of Who is Talking Out of My Head – Grief as an out of
Body Experience
She
blogs about Hope in the hard places at:
http://whoistalking.wordpress.com
Jocelyn, you're very accurate in your assessment about our Lord using grief to further his Good News. In my family's own trial I called out to God and told him, "You better bring some good out of all this crap!" Years later I can look back and see over and over how he's brought value for our suffering. We are crucified with Christ, and because of that we can serve others on a deeper level. The letter you received is proof of that. May the Lord continue to bless your words.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bobbi Jr For your words. I know you have walked a grief journey. "Dear God, I liked my life when it was shallow" is a book title I remember from earlier time, because it reflected my preference NOT to go through the deep valley of grief. It is not a choice we choose … no one would ever choose grief.
ReplyDeleteBut I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.
Thank you for your obedience. It must be very difficult to share such raw emotions, but you are being faithful and God is blessing those efforts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing such a connection to someone who feels such similarities in life. I'm always looking to connect with someone who is going through the same trial as me. I must admit, I don't like that feeling that I'm all alone in my plight. It's amazing how God sends people. They cross our path when we least expect it.
ReplyDelete'Gifts of Grief.' I have never thought of it quite that way. One thing I have been surprised to discover about grief is the way in which it continually circles throughout our lives. There is the initial grief (which isn't always a death as your friend with the mentally ill child experiences) and then the grief that we deal with on an ongoing basis. I don't think it really has an ending as we seem to be taught; just a changing and a living out on different levels. You have a deep ministry through what you have been through and thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI also think that grief is one of the most misunderstood emotions/experiences in our society; people are so uncomfortable and untaught about it that they immediately want to disengage from anyone grieving. Your book and talks give immeasurable help in this area. You will be in my prayers for June 3 and 4 as you share at the grief workshop.
ReplyDeleteThank-you Gloria, for the words and prayers for the workshop. Yes, I have contemplated that some of the understanding I have gained, is only because of the grief … the good things that have come, these are the gifts.
DeleteThanks for sharing your story of how God has helped you minister to others by being open to discuss and write about your own grief. This is an amazing and loving act of service to God and to others in need of your "gifts of grieving."
ReplyDeleteWhile none of us might actually see grieving as a gift, we can see God giving grace to those who turn their grief over to God. I see this grace in your stating, "I have had opportunities that would never have been possible in my previous life. My prayer has been that God bring the people into my life that I should cross paths with." Your story attests to God answering your prayer.
May God comfort you and your husband and bless you in your time of grieving a loss that seems incomprehensible to many of us. Amen .