Have a twenty year relationship with a client. In 2006 he drove two hours to attend my mothers funeral. I had not informed him of her death.
That day as I walked out of the Sanctuary, he was sitting toward the back, he reached out, hugged me and told me he loved me.

In 2006-2008 I went on work trips with him to the Gulf Coast to clean up and rebuild in some areas after Katrina. He has been retired since 2002, but contributes to this world in multiple ways.

Yesterday, he was in my office signing papers after his girlfriend and wife of 61 years passed away in early July.

I asked him how he was.
He spoke for about a minute and the emotion, hurt, pain and suffering rose out of his heart and push tears out of his eyes.

As his head hung down I hugged him and told him I loved him.

There is no way I can understand completely how he feels, for I have not experienced the death of my spouse.

 

The One who gives us comfort allowed me to comfort one who had comforted me 10 years ago.

 

The author of the letters to Corinth told his readers that the sufferings he endured were to their benefit.

Yesterday, the pain and hurt I have felt in my life worked to the benefit of my longtime friend who stood suffering in my office.

I could have been shallow and told him it would get better. I could have given him a quick man-hug, quickly patted him twice on the back and walked away.

However, the comfort and words he gave to me a decade ago came back yesterday in an attempt to comfort and encourage him, and to pray with and for him. His hurt and my care for him in his pain drew tears from my eyes as I held him.

His pain and hurt are not gone today.
The suffering he is walking through will not end quickly.

 

Yet, I can be his friend today and for many tomorrows.

 

As he suffers the pain of loss,
I can walk with him,
not telling him anything ,
but simply walking through this, with him.

 

I have a friend whose teenaged son passed away in 2003.

 

Inexplicable pain.

Undefinable loss.

 

Most stayed away, but I went to him that night and simply sat in his living room with him and one other friend.

Three years later this same friend sat with my family and encouraged us that when we felt the loss and grief in our mothers passing….to concentrate on what she had gained by being eternally in The Presence of Christ.

Yesterday, as I could see the pain, hurt and suffering in the eyes of my friend … I shared with him that same encouragement.

If we walk according to the Creators’ Presence within us….the pain and hurt we live through will work to the benefit of many.

 

Terry
August 2016