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“What’s going to happen is, six months will go by, and everybody’s going to think, well, it’s passed.  But you’re going to ride by that field or smell that fragrance, receive that flashing image, and you’re going to feel like that day you got the news.  But you know you’re going to make it when the image of your dad, your husband, your friend, crosses your mind, and a smile comes to your lip before a tear to your eye.  That’s when you know, and I promise you, I give you my word, I promise you, this I know, that day will come.  That day will come.”~ Joe Biden (National Grief Day)

How true those words are... at some point the memories do begin to bring a smile before a tear, and you know you will make it.  Grief is such a difficult road but also such a transforming one.  Grief breaks a heart wide open in such a painfully shocking way.  But you know you will make it when you begin to see and realize how God does not waste a thing.  God even (especially) uses brokenness for good.  A heart busted and split right open in pain can then be used to allow love and compassion to flow in and through it.  It is our job to keep the heart open, to stay tender, to hold the space grief and sorrow created, and to not let our hearts scab over in bitterness or hardness.  For God uses the tender, broken hearts the most.  I think those hearts are capable of loving harder and stronger than ever before, if we let them.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst, for they shall be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 5:3-10)