“I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.  Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends!”  –Lamentations 3: 21

The graduation ceremony never attended, the next-step decision never discussed, the cross-country adventure never shared, and the many other expectations never fulfilled–it’s okay.  You can cry.

Cry hard and fully and every time you feel like it.  Grief knows no timetable nor formula.  Just let it out, for tears are the heart’s attestation that he meant a lot to you, that he means a lot to you and that you love him.

Granted, I don’t know your situation fully, but I have been acquainted with grief in my own way, and I wanted to encourage you that the hurt won’t always suffocate so forcefully.  Things won’t always be like this.  They’ll be even better.  

You’ll be even better because to experience this kind of pain is to come face to face with the God who comforts with supernatural hugs, to nestle into His bosom and hear Him whisper, “It’s going to be okay.  I got you.”  And though going through this is never easy, easy was never part of the equation, for it too often gives way to a forgetfulness and forsaking of the One in whom we live and move and have our being.  That being the case, easy versus hard is not the issue at hand but rather if He is still worthy or not to be the subject of your song and the center of your being.

And He is.

He is so worthy, always has been and will be.

Now I don’t mean to make light of your grief.  I don’t mean to speak down to you but rather to come along side of you when you feel like you’re alone and go behind you when it seems you can’t go on anymore.

So to you, my friend and sister in Christ, keep walking–always forward, with your chin up and your spirit worshipping.  I promise you, it’s going to be worth it.  HE promises.  He’s got you, and He will be more than you need for this life and the next.

Be encouraged, love, and know that you and your family are being bathed in prayer.