The Beatitudes: No More Sadness

The Beatitudes: No More Sadness

Bible Blast: Read Revelation 21:1-4

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Matthew 5:4

A few years ago, our beloved dog Tippy died. She was the sweetest little cocker spaniel ever seen. Those big, pouty, cocker spaniel eyes and that soft, droopy nose made a person just want to squeeze her.

It became apparent, as is often the case with beloved pets, that it was cruel to keep her alive on medication, and we knew we needed to take her to the vet to say good-bye. The sadness nearly broke us. My husband was the one who had to take her. He stopped at the McDonald’s drive-through and bought her an entire bag of hamburgers to munch on that morning. When he came home, all he had with him was Tippy’s collar and the purple bandana she had been wearing.

I kept that bandana handy for days, sniffing it so I could be “near” my sweet, furry friend. For three days, no one in the family wanted to do anything. We were so sad.

When you are in mourning, it feels as if the pain is never going to end. But God does provide comfort for those who are grieving on this earth. If we let him, he’ll meet our pain in various superpersonal ways that will help us get through each day without the friend we miss so much. God will use other people to help you, hold you, and cry with you. Just ask him.

In the days following Tippy’s death, friends came to tell us funny stories about her, and hearing the stories made us feel better. If you are mourning a pet—or a friend or family member—ask God to comfort you. And know that as time goes by the pain will be more bearable.

If you are not, look around and see if you need to be the source of comfort for someone else. It can be hard to know what to say, but God will give you the words to speak. Just take the time to try. I had a friend whose daughter died in a car crash, and no one knew what to say. God gave me the words. Do you know what they were? “I’m not really sure what to say. I just know this must be painful.” They were the most comforting words she’d heard all week.

Girl Gab: Think of a friend or family member who is mourning right now. Write a note to encourage that person.