A Flood of Grief

This weekend I went away to rest and recover. I didn’t post about it because I felt guilty, even though I also knew mine and my husband’s limits had been breached weeks ago. 

I can’t tell you what that time did for me. My heart has been so heavy and burdened with the pain, loss, and devastation of this natural disaster—this unprecedented flood—in my hometown. So much so, that even the massive outpouring of help and support did not lift my spirits. The shock, grief, and exhaustion had numbed me to anything but the pain.

This morning, however, as I scrolled social media looking at updates from the flood, I came across a post of a group of people praying over the supplies they were sending. It stopped me in my tracks. And then it came tearing through my broken heart. 

I don’t know what it was about this post that finally struck a chord within me, but the joy and faith of these people reminded me of how I would respond if I were on the outside of this situation looking in.

It reminded me of something one of my mama’s friends told me after she died… to embrace every card, hug, prayer, and casserole as if it were a direct gift from God. Because it was God moving within those people to comfort me. 

Just like it is God moving within thousands of people today to comfort those of us reeling from this flood.

There’s a sign on the flower wall/flood victims memorial that says “Jesus wept.” I know He did, and continues to, alongside each and every one of us. And all this support? It’s prompted by Him. It’s His comfort, grace, love, and kindness pouring through His people.

Embrace the support. As I said in my book Grace-Faced, “We must grieve with open arms, not with clenched fists.” 

Grief-stricken but His,

Nicki