Grief is weird. It doesn’t matter how long it has been since you have lost a loved one, whether it’s 12 years or 7 years, the tears still fall from time to time. Yes, the days do get more tolerable as the years march on, but there are moments, experiences, or that favorite something that brings it all back.

Grief is weird. That date in which some one passed away is forever etched in your memory. You do not need to write it on the calendar. You just know.

Grief is weird. It can cripple us emotionally. It can go away in the blink of an eye. It can keep us humble. It can make us grumble. It can bring us hope. It can make us feel hopeless. It can turn normal into unbelievable. It can make you wonder what is normal anymore. It can bring us friends who comfort. It can make us realize we need that comfort.

Grief is weird. Sometimes you try your best to run away from it; extra jokes, extra time away from home. Sometimes all you do is just push it away for another day.

Grief is weird. It can make you hold onto an empty McDonald’s coffee cup for six years because it was the last cup you “shared” with that someone. Or it’s that afghan that you don’t use anymore, but you know how much love was put into every stitch. Some days you think it’s silly to keep such items, but you just can’t get rid of them. 

Grief is weird. Sometimes it’s that good cup of coffee or just feeding the ducks that make you feel like those loved ones are close. It brings back all of those wonderful memories that we now cherish. 

Grief is weird. But it’s definitely a part of this life that we can’t escape. Nobody is immune from grief. Not even my Lord. He wept when his friend, Lazarus, died and He even knew he wouldn’t be dead for long. 

Grief is weird but knowing that someday that grief will all be erased and every tear will be wiped away brings me hope and joy. Hope that causes every day to become a little bit brighter and joy in knowing God will always keep His promises. 

Grief is weird. 

But…

My God and His promises are wonderful.

By: Kristina Odom