| Psalm 61:2 – “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” |
Except for a few years here and there, I have lived my entire life within a couple of miles of my parents. I saw them several times each week, and on the days I did not see them, we talked on the phone. They were available to help me when I had surgery and I was able to run errands for them or care for them in their later years. I often asked my dad for advice, and my mom was my confidante and best friend.
My dad passed away from cancer in 2015, and my mother also succumbed to the disease in 2022. The loss of their presence in my daily life was a huge bottomless pit of sadness and loneliness for me. As crazy as my life was, I knew I could always count on them. And now they are gone.
Some days are more difficult than others, but I doubt a day has gone by when I have not thought of one or both of them. Vacations, working in the garden, making jigsaw puzzles, fishing trips, big family meals and times at church – my parents impacted every part of my life, not just as a child but also as an adult.
Some days I get bogged down in my grief and have found the only way out is to look up into the face of God. His strong arms comfort me, his gentle voice calms my fears of the future, and his tender hands wipe away my tears. As a mountain towers over the surrounding countryside, I need God’s presence to tower over the grief and sadness in my life.
Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for my parents and other important people in my life. Help me to appreciate those who are still with me, and to remember fondly those who have gone on before. You are my comforter in times of grief, and the strong rock I can cling to when my life is unsettled. Thank you for loving me. Amen.
-Betty Gossell
