Weeping
Image: Charlotte Knight on Unsplash
It’s been twenty-two years since my mother died. It happened during the Easter school holidays in 2004.
I was in Florida, with my wife, our three young children, and her family. It was a ‘once in a lifetime’ holiday, where we had visited all the big attractions, such as the Walt Disney Parks and Universal Studios.
The day before we were due to come home we received a phone call from the UK informing us of my mother’s death. I was shocked, deeply sadden and felt a bit helpless.
Before we had travelled to the USA I had popped in on her, as I regularly did, and had said how much I loved her.
Mum was a Christian, so I took comfort in knowing that even though she had ‘passed away’, that was not the end, as she was very much alive in ‘heaven’.
Ever since then, I often find that I am moved to tears at funerals, as there is a deep connection with those grieving the loss of their loved one.
Because we love people, we are deeply moved when they are no longer with us. This was true for Jesus too. In the book of John, there is a story about the death of Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus. When he joined the mourners the Bible says…
“Jesus wept.”
This is the shortest verse in the Bible! These two words convey Jesus’ empathy. He was moved to tears as he shared the pain and sadness of those around him.
I find this so comforting that Jesus was someone who was not afraid to show his emotions.
I once sat with a dear couple where the husband had an incurable illness. Even though many of us had prayed for him, he was not getting better.
We talked about eternity, heaven, leaving this earth and his family. It was deeply moving and we wept together.
Emotions are God given, and help us to connect with one another beyond the spoken word. Let me encourage you to be aware and open to your emotions.
God bless you:)
Gary Bastin
Hope Community Church leader