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Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Grief is Strong Medicine

"Grief is strong medicine, life loves on." - (page 133, The Sacred Bridge by Anne Hillerman) 

Sitting in the beauty shop waiting my turn, I spoke with the lady sitting by me. She said, “you look nice but sad." When I told her that I am a recent widow, she smiled and asked, “Do you have a church?”, I replied, “Yes, Eastridge Presbyterian Church for the past 50 years." Her reply was “Then you know Jesus."

My answer was not on the tip of my tongue and luckily my hairdresser was ready for me. But, I thought, Do I Know Jesus?  I have learned of his life, his teachings. He loved the little children, he turned water into wine, he fed the multitudes with loaves and fishes, he healed the bleeding woman, he raised his friend from the dead, he helped the blind to see and as a child, he talked to the priests in the temple. He also died on the cross and was risen from the dead.

I could have told that very nice and concerned lady all of this, but my faith is mine. Sometimes, I find it hard to understand, hard to define. As a widow beginning to walk the lonely path, I feel his presence. I am reminded of the old hymn “In the Garden”.  He walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me, I am his own.  Yes, maybe I can’t claim to know him, but he and I are friends. He, his Father and the Holy Ghost.

Carolyn Olsen 

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