I did not think that my first article this year would be about grief and joy at the same time, but here we are. This won’t be long, but it will be impactful. So, here goes…..
JOY
When we experience joy, it’s very easy to forget to be grateful for the moments of blessings and most probably even take it for granted.
GRIEF
When we experience grief, it’s very easy to forget all the joy you have experienced and allow the heavy clouds of loss and pain to cloud your judgement, and it looks like your life has been all about the grief.
WHAT NOW?
So, what happens when you experience both grief and joy at the same time? What do you do with this conflicting emotions???
So, two weeks ago we celebrated my sister’s wedding. It was so good. It was so blessed, and so much love was in the air. Two days later, our grandmother died. I’ve experienced many things in my life, but nothing so life-altering and completely disorienting as this. Normally, you would think it’s because she was sick or going through treatment, but she was well, and she was at the wedding. Her sudden departure has really put a lot of things out of place for me and my family. So, what am I supposed to do? Grieve? Be happy? I kept asking myself this question, and something kept popping up in my mind: “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.” This phrase that had become a common greeting amongst many believers became a reality for me in this season. Planning a wedding and everything going well is nothing to take for granted; it was all God. When the same God decides to take one of His own back home, the reaction should be the same. He is still the same God, and He is still good.
GRATITUDE
During this season I found myself in Psalm 90. It really reminded me that we have a time stamp on this earth. it also took me to Ecclesiastes 3. Losing our grandmother is the first real loss I have experienced as an adult, and the way it happened really had me questioning the verse. Grief and joy happen at the same time every day, but it just so happened to be in close proximity this time. It was time for my sister to marry, and it was time for my grandmother to leave us. Such is the complexity of life. In all this, I have gratitude in my heart that God was and still is here comforting us and celebrating with us at the same time.
Until next time,
Love,
Mulai
