My Forever Memories of You Grief Blog- 4 Benefits that Can Come from Grief


Dearest Friends,

The idea of anything good at all coming from grief may seem absolutely impossible to you right now. You might be angry that I even suggest such a thing when you are in the deepest part of your grief. But one of the very reasons for this grief ministry is to hold out eternal hope to those who are completely devastated. Seeing good come from the pain others believe they could never recover from is why the Lord has kept me doing this for 25 years. With God, nothing is impossible. He loves bringing about good—even out of the most tragic situations. It may take time for you to see it, but the more you cling to the Lord Jesus Christ, the more you will see God even in your brokenness. Here are just four possible good things that will come from your deep loss:


1.    Deep Compassion
After experiencing the life-shattering wound of having a loved one ripped from your life, you will forever have a depth of compassion for others who go through this. Your situation may be completely different than theirs; but you know the gut-wrenching sobs that cannot be expressed, the tears that threaten to drown, the loneliness that seems to be permanent, the well-meaning words of others that cut deep, the fact that grief cannot be taken away but has to be worked through. You will know from now on that a simple hug, text, phone call or sharing of a memory is more precious than can be expressed—especially from someone who has been there. As you find comfort from the Lord, you will know how to comfort others.


2.    Knowledge that Life is Short
We know with our intellect that everyone must die at some point yet rarely are we ready. With the reality of your loved one’s death right before you. You now know with all your being that life is short. They were here with you one moment—now they are gone. It doesn’t get more real than that. When you realize how fleeting life truly is, it changes the way you live. You realize any day could be your last day. You learn to savor sunsets, wind, moments…and most of all relationships.


3.    Relationships Are Most Important
Many times, we don’t realize just how important our loved ones are until they are gone. We don’t realize how intertwined our lives and souls are. Dealing with the death of our loved one helps us to realize that things are not important. We would give almost anything to have them back in our presence. On the other hand, we realize we are selfish in wanting that for they have gone to the eternal part of their life. We begin to realize that the relationships we still have are more precious than we ever realized. This experience changes the way we talk to others, listen to others, try to understand others, savor others, pray for others, and share the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ with others. 


4.    Draws You Closer to the Lord and Eternity
As you struggle through grief, hopefully you reach out to the Lord to handle what you can never handle on your own. Each day is more than you can face by yourself, but the more you ask Him to help you, the more you realize He will never ever leave you or forsake you. He has been with you from before you were born and He will lead you to you eternal Home with Him. That is one of the benefits God gives us when He gave us Jesus Christ. Not only did He pay the death penalty for our sin, but He is with us always—as we finish this life and hold His hand when it’s our turn to soar across the finish line with Him. 

Love and prayers, 

Eva

My Forever Memories of You


“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
 

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About the Author

My prayer is after you’ve read my writing or  heard me speak you won’t remember too much about me, but you will be drawn closer to the Lord. Yet I know you need to know something of the person whose words you hear or read. May you hear love in my voice…love for you and for our Lord God Almighty, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who lives in me.

God has been with me every step of a life filled with rich experiences of ups and downs. My prayer is for something I share to cause others to come closer to Him.  As a prayer cheerleader, I share Prayer Peeks & Prompts to help jump-start others into a deeper prayer life.

My first husband Steve died at the age of 37 after a long traumatic illness, leaving me behind with 4 remarkable children. Later, I married Dwight who was father to three wonderful kids. We blended our families together with the glue of Jesus’ love. My deep love for children extends beyond my ever-growing family to teaching  in early childhood education, Vacation Bible School and Sunday School. Yet I love all ages…

Since Steve died, for over 20 years I offered a Grieve With Hope support group for those who suffer loss (from the death of children, spouses, parents, siblings and friends- as well as other major losses). If you are grieving or pastor those who grieve,  join My Forever Memories grief support group . I am a certified Grief Recovery Specialist who shares the eternal hope found in Jesus Christ. There is a lot of helpful information on grieving through this website.

Besides speaking to many groups over the years, I have taught a weekly Women’s Bible Study as well as a Live With Hope group which reaches young women recovering from substance abuse. These women are all dear to my heart and have been influential in my writing of many women’s Bible Studies.

I have been blessed to write hundreds of articles, devotions, Bible Studies, personal experience stories and prayers for publications such as Lookout, Chicken Soup For The Soul, Standard Publishing, Billy Graham’s Decision Magazine, Women’s Day, Upper Room and many others.

Now you know a little about me…but remember:  It’s NOT about me! It’s all about Him.