This Side of Gone

By Brenda Jank

This side of gone – my side – stinks and is harder than heck. 
Our son, Joshua*, died 5 months ago.

Josh’s side of gone, is literally out of this world. It is fabulous and forever and celebrated in the arms of God. Josh is alive, healed, whole!

Grief, as so many know, is heavy and hard.
Intense.
Demanding.
Unpredictable.
It is a work of God in the inner chamber – planned and unplanned.
It is ugly. It is beautiful.
God shows up in it and through it miraculously.
AND
(Oh the power of AND and the power of YET.)
AND
It sucks me dry.

We
Are
Not
Meant
To
Be
Separated
From
Those
We
Love

Bottom line – this is what God feels for me.

When I am distant or distracted, He longs for reconnection, resolution and restoration.
And so he pursues.
Me.
You.
Us.
Everyday.
In our grief.
In our groaning.
In our growth-track toward joy.

 

*Josh was 29-years old when he died of cancer, complicated by Sickle Cell Anemia and a rare liver-lung disease. Josh was on the Autism Spectrum and had a stroke when he was 5. Courageous, kind, and crazy (never a dull moment with this kid), Josh lived on mission! You can get a glimpse of his joy at www.RedDiamondDays.com
Oh my friends, the word “was” and the word “gone” sting my eyes with tears.


Brenda Jank and the Run Hard. Rest Well team. are thought leaders in the arena of Restorative Wellness. Find additional resources at www.RunHardRestWell.org. Contact us at: brenda@runhardrestwell.org

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