Grief

Everyone knows the story of the two mothers bringing the baby to King Solomon.  It’s so pervasive in popular culture that one might even be forgiven for thinking it’s not actually in scripture. 
 
What’s forgotten about this story often is the desperation of the mother whose child had already died.  Follow me here: This woman rolled over and smothered her child, and in her desperation, she stole her friend’s baby and tried to pass it off as hers.  Being so struck with grief, she was even willing to see this new baby killed.
 
While this story is normally told to show the wisdom of Solomon, and it does, it also shows us a picture of how far grief can take us into the darkness.  Grief is this weird emotion.  It makes us angry.  It makes us sad.  It causes us to try to bargain with what we know is right.  It causes us to deny reality.  Often times when given the space to grieve in a healthy matter, we are able to process those feelings in a safe way.  Sometimes though, in times of great, unexpected tragedy, things go way off the rails. 
 
There is nothing wrong with grief.  It is natural and healthy.  May we, when we experience grief, lean into God, and his eternal wisdom, and may we also know the love and support of the family of Christ here on earth.  Amen.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FIELD

FAMILY FIELD TALK