The Grieving Whirlwind

Eighteen days after my eleventh birthday I found myself locked in a teacher's lounge playing solitaire and losing. My father had died of a sudden heart attack that morning and the school staff had no idea what to do with me. As I sat in the usually coveted high-backed rolling chair I began my grieving process. When an unusual tragedy occurs, most people are not prepared to deal with those who are affected. My school was not prepared to handle a grieving fifth-grader, so they stuffed me in the back room. Unfortunately, this is not a new story. People's lives are drastically altered in a matter of moments, yet it takes some the rest of their lives to adjust to the changes.

When someone is thrown unexpectedly into a whirlwind of grief and loss, it is important to give them a obvious road to follow towards recovery. The road of grief is easy to explain, but hard to follow. A wounded person cannot go far alone, other people are necessary at this stage. As soon as the road becomes "too long" or "too hard", the wounded individual will begin to look for shortcuts. Shortcuts are extremely dangerous because when you take a detour on a road you do not know, it is incredibly difficult to find your way back. This is where most people get stuck or become destructive. True friends, who will walk the road with you, are vital.

As Ecclesiastes 4:10 says, " If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" When I was sitting in that dimly lit back room at my old school, I wished I wasn't alone. My eyes would dart to the door knob every time the walls creaked, my heart longed for a true friend. If you have experienced this whirlwind and are feeling lost or broken, find a true friend who will walk this harsh road with you and pick you up when you fall. Sometimes, there is no human whom you can trust. If you find yourself in this position, know that you are not alone and recovery is still possible. As Psalms 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." If you cannot find a true friend, cry out to God and He will be your everything. He sees your pain and you do not have to feel this way for the rest of your life. Don't give up on this journey to freedom. God is always with us, and he will not leave or stuff you in a back room. You are not forgotten.


Written by Molly Frazier, Editor and Outreach Intern

Living Waters Ministry

www.LivingWatersMinistry.com

www.TBIhope.com