Author Darlene J Conard

 Promises such as, “The lord is my buckler and shield. God is excellent in all His ways. He will deliver me from the snare of the fowler,” sustains my weary soul.

Having a heavy heart is hard to empty. It’s full of unreleased sorrow. Some sorrow is dealt with one day at a time. Take a lost loved one for example. The absence of that loved one is the absence of oneself. My grandma said something to me that sticks with me. “When your papa died a part of me did too because we were made one flesh in marriage. Many women have told me that after having a miscarriage they grieve as though the held that child in their arms. Understandably that makes sense. The thing to do is have compassion. Realize that they are in a wrestling match what was and what is now. Changes inflict their wounds. I meant to write something else, but the Holy Ghost has led me this way. I prayed for His guidance, and this is it. So, I’m going to be obedient to the Lord.

One of my friends who I lost in February 2020 took a part of me with her as well. Many nights her vehicle lights would light up my living room. “Go for a ride with me.” Quickly throwing on my clothes, checking everything out, I would grab my purse and keys and lock the door. Vividly I remember resting my hand on her shoulder looking at her saying, “Shan, I love you and I need for you to know that I love you very much.”  

“I love you to ‘Gator’.” Which was short for alligator, “I know you do.” She breathed out as she cautiously pulled out of the driveway.

“I just need to say it.”  

This is not a message of hopelessness nor is it a distraction from grievance. It’s a message to let all whose heart is heavy with grief has a place in the comfort of Jesus’ loving arms.   

To those who have lost a loved one know that the Lord can and will walk with you day by day.

“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

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