Never forgotten

A reflection and prayer to start the day with Ruth Jennings

Good morning. This week seven years ago my husband died of a brain tumour.

Recently I was teaching a singing lesson, and we were learning a very famous jazz song (Autumn Leaves.) I told the girl in the lesson that it was my husband’s favourite jazz tune.

She’s asked was he a musician too and I answered that yes, he was. He was an excellent pianist, clarinettist and saxophonist and we’d performed Autumn Leaves many times together.The girl nodded and smiled, and we continued learning the song. I realised that she didn’t know that my husband was now dead, and I decided not to tell her. Partly, I felt it might be awkward but also because for a moment, it felt like he was alive again.

As she sang ‘but I miss you most of all my darling, when autumn leaves start to fall’ I could feel my eyes sting with a stifled tear. Even after seveb years, Grief is never far away.

In the Bible we learn that Jesus felt and understood grief. Even when he was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, he shared the immediate sorrow of Mary, Martha, and the crowd in mourning.

John 11 says he was "deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled" Sadness and grief are natural human experiences, they’re not from a lack of faith.

But Jesus is also the great comforter and encourages each of us to find solace in him.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted"

Heavenly Father, I pray that you would be close to the bereaved and grieving. Surround them with your loving care and fill them with your perfect peace. Lord, Heal the brokenhearted and help them find joy again.

Amen