“Die Wise”
Hello All! Hope each of you are doing very well!
Want to share a few thoughts today. Some thoughts that are of great value for me! For some of you, maybe simply something to think about.
For many years I have read through the Bible. That is how I start my day and it has been very valuable. That time each day is for me.
Yesterday my Old Testament reading was in the book of Ecclesiastes. Each year I typically highlight different verses and each year I am reading a text that may have been highlighted years ago. I have found that dependent on what is going on in my life, I often read a text that may have a different perspective or sometimes even meaning.
This verse jumped out in a different way. It had been highlighted, but caught my attention in a special way.
“For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.” Ecclesiastes 1:18
I sat with that for a little bit and then on my walk shortly after my reading, I continued to process that verse.
This is a verse that I believe to be true and actually very helpful. It is also a truth that I believe many people have no desire to spend much time thinking about. Nobody really wants to believes there is any reason to think about or acknowledge grief and sorrow. Grief and sorrow are very much a part of this life.
Chester Dale Mead, my father died shortly after I turned 3 years old. I have no memory of my father and yet his life has had a huge impact on who I am today. The reality of death and grief slowly began to become a reality of life. That was unhealthy for many years. In my early 20’s I started to personally work on that part of my life. I have been working on “Grief” for almost 40 years. My personal work has made it possible to work with others walking on the grief journey.
I said this years ago. That has become such a comfortable area for me to work with people. I quickly realized that I could not fix anyone. There was nothing I could say or do to get rid of their grief. I could listen, encourage, pray for and let them move forward, learn, grow and experience some healing. Grief is part of this life.
It is important not to live in grief day to day. It is easy to get lost in it and let grief have control. That gets very unhealthy. I believe healthy grief can help us see the other side of life and that matters very, very much!!!!
The other side of life is knowing the beautiful “Gift of Life.” Life is the beautiful gift of living today. Engaging in the key relationships we have. Taking a walk in the mornings and recognizing the beautiful world we live in. Reading fabulous books, listening to amazing music. The opportunity to enjoy and be thankful for today even when life is hard.
Let me end with a very important idea. An idea I have focused on in a different way the last 3 years. My dear and very close friend Bill recommended this book last week. He and I are both on this never chosen cancer journey. I ordered it and have been reading. The book is, Die Wise, by Stephen Jenkinson.
I would encourage any of you to read this. It is a very special book! Worth some time and reflection. I have set with this idea the last two days.
“Dying well is not the end of parenting but the fullness of parenting, not the end of marriage, but the last great act of a married life.”
Never, Never, Forget,,,,,,, “YOU ARE LOVED AND OF GREAT VALUE”…