“A Year without Dad” (Pick a Card Series)
August 5, 2023
“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
– Nehemiah 8:10b
If you have been following my blog for the past several weeks, you know I have been picking a Scripture card at random from my stash of encouraging Bible verses. Before I send that card to someone, I blog on it. This week’s card was picked at random a couple of weeks ago and I decided to hold onto it until this week which marks the first anniversary of my dear Dad’s passing.
It has been a year already since Dad slipped into eternity. It has been a year that has been slow and swift in many ways. It has been a year of journeying through grief. It has been a year of friends and loved ones faithfully asking how Mom and my family are doing.
When dad died last August, I blogged about my inexperience with the grief that was related to losing a parent, about my fear of that grief, and the amazing grace that I could not stockpile but that was abundantly available when I most needed it. Thanks to God’s all-sufficient and amazing grace, we are doing well.
Doing well, however, does not mean that there are no challenges, wistful moments, or tears. Part of the journey of grief is that many emotions, joyful and sorrowful, can coexist at the same time. Here’s what a year without Dad has been like –
Never a day goes by that …
Mom does not mention that her sweetheart is in heaven
We do not think of him
We do not miss him
We do not take courage to live our lives and move forward
We do not fail to take care of Mom as he would desire
We do not thank God for His all-sufficient grace in comforting our hearts
Rarely a day goes by that…
I do not look at his picture
I do not sit in his favorite chair
I do not say, “Dad would have liked that!”
I do not quote him, especially when watching the Phillies badly perform
I do not remember how much he enjoyed when are family was gathered together
I do not imagine his response to the kids, both grand and great, growing up
I do not imagine what he is doing in the presence of the Lord
I do not find comfort in Nehemiah 8:10
To fully grasp the power of Nehemiah 8:10, it is essential to comprehend the historical context in which it was spoken. The verse finds its roots during the time of the Israelites’ return from captivity, as they gathered to hear the reading of the Law by Ezra the scribe and Old Testament priest. The people were understandably burdened, facing various challenges in the process of rebuilding their lives and their city. It is within this backdrop of struggle that Ezra encourages the people to stop grieving for their past sins and let the joy of the Lord strengthen them during their time of weakness.
While the context of Nehemiah 8:10 is not directly related to the grief over losing a loved one, the application of the verses is relevant in a world filled with challenges, uncertainties, and countless sorrow. Finding true joy can often feel like an elusive pursuit, however, Nehemiah 8:10 teaches us that the joy of the Lord is our strength, that joy is a choice and not a fleeting emotion subject to circumstances. True joy is a conscious decision to focus on the goodness of the Lord, even amidst trials and tribulations.
True joy lies in our connection with the Lord in Whom we discover the strength needed to navigate life’s challenges, disappointments, and even a year without Dad!