Once there were three men who had each had a close friend who had died. The friend was happy in heaven, but the three men were very sad. The first one said to himself, “I have become so sad that I have forgotten how to be happy again. I used to walk with my friend in the woods. I’ll take that walk again, and I’ll build a fire and have incense, and say the prayer that my parents taught me. Maybe God will help me to be happy again.” And so, he did all those things, and when he was finished praying he stood up and thought he would certainly begin to feel better very soon.

The second man said to himself, “ I don’t know how to use incense, and my family never taught me a special prayer, but I know the path in the forest and I can build a fire.” He, too, took the walk and built a fire and prayed a prayer, and thought that he would feel happier soon.

The third man sat by a window in his house and looked down at his hands, which reminded him that he could pray, and this is what he said: “ Father God, I don’t know any path in the woods. Even if I did, those trees have all been cut down by now. I don’t know how to build a fire with incense, and my family never taught me a special prayer. I have nothing at all, but a sad heart. I wonder if a sad heart would be enough for you to touch my life and make me happy again.”

When that man stood up he was happier than the other two, for he discovered that Jesus’ words , Blessed are those who mourn, for you will be comforted (by God Himself) were really, really true. ( Matthew 5: 4)

Grief comes into the life of everyone, and we all struggle to escape it, but among the beatitudes of Jesus is this short one which has been a sustaining message for thousands of years. We can help ourselves to recover from great loses, but the one who surrenders himself is the one who receives the renewal that we all need. Believing that loved ones are happy in heaven is not enough to remove the sense of loss and sometimes regret, but Jesus makes clear that his Father and our Father is able to supply for us the peace and hope that restores our joy. The apostle Paul wrote : For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future. . . neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)

I believe that with God’s help we can all become like the third man.

Love in Him,

Prue