dear Diary #1

TO MOURN OR NOT TO MOURN?

Dear diary,

I couldn't believe she was gone. She laid on the bed motionless, no chest expansion, no pulse, no cardiac nor brain activity, no breath sounds...she was really gone. Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked down at this elderly patient I was attending to at the emergency unit for diabetic ketoacidosis...she was dead.

Two weeks earlier, I had just arrived home from work late at night when my dad greeted me with the death of the son of a family friend. I couldn't believe it! There were rumours all over social media about how he committed suicide because he had had bad grades that semester; others were saying he committed suicide because of a failed realtionship. All these rumours were refuted when it became known that he was actually an "A" class student and had passed all his exams with flying colours; and he had no relationship issues whatsoever, and did not commit suicide at all!

An autopsy report was requested...

I was devastated.

Both situations really got me thinking...do we really allow people to mourn the departure of loved ones into eternity or we hide behind our belief as Christians that the dead individual is gone to a better place so there is no need to mourn?

Many times when we go and see the bereaved we go with words of encouragement in a bid to stop them from crying. Some people will even say "Oh stop crying, God gives and God has taken", and even things like "God is not unwise to have taken this person, it's all part of His big plan".

In as much as I believe that someone who loved God will be with Him in eternity, trying to prevent people from weeping or expressing their grief is not the way forward! The Lord Jesus Himself wept for His friend lazarus when he died, even though He knew He was going ressurrect him.

So yes! To mourn; weep, roll on the ground, wrap yourself in sackcloth, smear yourself with ashes and wail. That's the way to go. Let out all your grief and sorrow. Let it all out. Trying to suppress those emotions is what plunges people in depression.

But in your grief remember there's a God who cares about you and a comforter who is with you. Pour your grief at His feet.

The next time you go and visit a bereaved individual or family, pull them into your bosom, pat their backs gently and tell them to weep.

Romans 12:15 KJV