A Healing Place

By

It’s Mother’s Day, and it has been an emotional day.

Grief is an unpredictable companion along life's journey.

We had a lovely day together as a family. The guys and the grandchildren fixed a scrumptious dinner for us, and we finished off the day with fresh strawberry shortcake.  But even as I celebrated with my daughter, Amy and her sweet family, I found myself thinking about how many

should

be sitting around our family's table. I wondered what this day would be like if Scott had not died. Especially today, I found myself longing to feel his hug one.more.time.

Yet, with this burden of grief, my heart finds comfort tonight in the imagery of Psalm 85:10.  There the psalmist speaks of a healing place where

“Mercy and Truth have met each other: Justice and Peace have kissed.”

Each element ~

truth, justice, mercy, and peace

~ brings perspective and potential for experiencing peace with loss.

For those who grieve,

Truth

is about

what

to remember and

how

to remember. Truth casts her eyes toward the past, remembers the way it was before the loss, and underscores the value of treasuring my relationship with Scott.

Justice

is about what can be done

now

to restore wholeness in my life and renew the relationship that has been forever changed by death. Justice looks at the present and recognizes the full weight of grief. I am so thankful the psalmist did not stop with Truth and Justice, but included Mercy and Peace.

For

Mercy

and

Peace

look to the

future

and help me consider ~

How can I live without Scott in my life?
How can I transform my relationship with Scott from one of presence to one of memory?

Yes,

Mercy

and

Peace

gaze toward the future and what life

can

and

will be like

as a result of this loss.

I love the way John Paul Lederach writes about this imagery in his book,

The Journey Toward Reconciliation

~

For Truth without Mercy is blinding and raw; Mercy without Truth is a cover-up and superficial. Justice without Peace falls easily into cycles of bitterness and revenge; Peace without Justice is short-lived and benefits only the privileged or the victors.

As another Mother's Day comes to a close, I recognize that along my journey of grief some days will be harder than others. Some days will scream for

Truth

and

Justice

. I am also aware that there is a healing place where the reality of my loss is embraced by

Mercy

and transformed by

Peace

.

And for that, I am ever so grateful.