When we come full Circle

Matthew 5:4

            “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

When my dad passed from this life, I took on the load of caring for mother and I did not have time to be comforted.  I would not allow myself to give thought to what my dad had meant to my life because if I did then I would allow my emotions to go places I thought at the time was not productive.   I was a new believer in a big God, but did not have much heart knowledge of grace, or that Jesus had said to each of us to bring our burdens to him for He cares for us.  If only I would have had a teachable spirit, if only I would have believed Jesus tells the truth, how different the six months following my dad’s death would have been.  Now, I’m learning to run to Jesus because He has said; “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”(Matthew 11:28-30)

It was six months later, in the back yard of mother’s house where I came full circle and allowed the mourning so needed in my life.  That back yard had so many memories of both good and not so good times, but on that day it was a place of mourning.  I had a total breakdown of tears and memories of my dad, I ended the time of mourning in a time of reflection on being the son of Sam Rice, and thanked God He had allowed me to have a dad, one who was not perfect, but who was fair, who worked hard to earn a living and was a God fearing man.

What a blessing it was to transfer all those emotions and grief to my Lord, for this is what I should have learned if I had been teachable: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice