This weekend marked a year since my sister-in-law, Sheri, left this world to go be with Jesus. The echo of her presence remains in the quiet corners of our hearts. While the grief has softened a little over this past year, it has not vanished. Each of us who loved her bear a bit of the weight of her unexpected loss.
Nearly every Sunday morning, Terri and I walk next door to have breakfast with her parents. The loss of their oldest daughter appears to have aged them both. Although we don’t speak of her much, Sheri’s memory lingers. We still think of her. We still remember her. We still miss her.
Grief is not a weakness. It’s proof that once love was there, that our hearts were open, and that someone touched our lives.
We’ve learned there is no one way to mourn. There is no right way to grieve, no timeline to follow. Terri says that some days feel heavy while some lighter. Sometimes tears stream down my beloved wife’s face. It hurts me to see her pain knowing that I can’t do anything to take away her ache.
We share a gratitude for the joy we were blessed to share with Sheri during our family gatherings. We’ve learned to carry love and loss simultaneously. Most importantly, we have learned that healing doesn’t mean forgetting.
A Prayer of Remembrance
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Sheri’s life and the love she shared. Continue to comfort our hearts as we remember her. May our grief be tempered with gratitude, and may her memory be a source of strength, peace, and hope. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
My friend, may you honor your grief, for it is sacred. It is a testament to the depth of your heart and the gift of love you experienced. Over time, healing will come. It will come, not because you’ve forgotten, but because you’ve learned to carry both love and loss together.
Until my next post…
Be salty, stay lit.
Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™
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The Devotional Guy™ 