December 21, 2020
Precious Memories: How They Linger!
But about ten years later, both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband. (Ruth 1:5)
My beloved child, grieving is a painful thing that you only know by losing someone you love. 2020 has been a tough year, and so many have lost loved ones. My heart is heavy for you, and I am praying for you. Two months ago, we had five deaths in a month, and two weeks ago, I lost a cousin and uncle in one week. So, I know what it is to have sorrow and grief. It is tough going through the holidays. I have lost my parents, and I miss their presence, especially during the holidays. If you have lost someone you love, don’t allow Satan to cause you to spiral down into depression.
Reach out for prayer. My email is prayerchangesfacts@gmail.com; reach out to the Prayer Team, and I will pray for you. Talk to the Father and tell Him how you feel and allow Him to heal and restore your broken heart. He is near the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalms 34:18) You are not alone. He is present right now in the room with you. One thing I do at night when I go to bed, I ask Jesus to hold me in His arms while I sleep and restore me. It is amazing how wonderful I rest when I am in His arms. You can ask Him to hold you while you sleep, and He will. David cried out to God. Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness, come and give me relief. (Psalms 143:1). God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalms 147:3)
My heart especially aches for you who have lost a child, a spouse, parent, or sibling. I ask the Father to hold you in His arms and love on you as He comforts and strengthens you. I ask Him to heal and restore you of any trauma you experienced with a loved one’s passing. If you allow God, He will heal, restore you, and use you to touch other’s lives in their grief. I have three special spiritual daughters who have lost both a child and a husband. It was difficult, and it broke their heart, but I have witnessed God healing, restoring them, and using them now to encourage others, and He desires to do the same in you.
Naomi lost both of her sons and husband. (Ruth 1:3, 5) Job lost all his children, home, and cattle in a day. (Job 1:13-19) He was Satan’s target because God favored him. In his grief, he stood up, tore his robe in grief, shaved his head, fell to the ground, and began worshiping God. He said, ‘Naked, I came from my Mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord! This was in his grief! Dear Jesus, if you lost all your children in a day, you would be in severe pain too. In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God for what happened. (Job 1:20-22) If you find yourself in a place where you are angry and blame God for the loss of your loved one, repent. Job was an innocent man; Satan attacked him, and he’s attacked you! (Job 17-12) He began praying for his friends who turned on him, and God gave him double for his trouble. (Job 42:10)
Allow me to share my personal experience of losing my parents. The Monday before Thanksgiving 2013, my Mother died suddenly and unexpectedly. Personally speaking, when a death is unexpected, and suddenly it’s shocking! I mourned for two months. Then it was time to pick myself up by the bootstraps and get moving forward. It is not the will of the Father for us to get stuck. It’s hard to move on, but you can do it with God’s help. Valentine’s Day 2015, my Dad passed. He was ill for six months prior. Even though you try to prepare yourself, you’re not prepared. We were so exhausted from sitting up at the hospital; it was hard to feel. One week before his death, I was given a prophetic word that I had one day to grieve his loss when my Dad passed. I thought one day! Really? But when he died, the ministry schedule was full; the only time I didn’t have anything on the calendar was the week of his death and funeral. I knew from the Word I had received, and I was not to cancel anything. I proceeded forward in obedience to God. In pressing through, God healed me, and my grieving process was short. I was blessed to make many beautiful memories with my Dad. I can tell you I am not sure the day I grieved, it may have been an hour here and an hour there, and all of it combined equaled a day. However, I can tell you from experience, and through scripture, it is not God’s will to grieve for long periods. Grief is different for everyone, and everyone grieves differently. The only way to move forward after losing someone you love is to lean on the Father in Heaven. (Proverbs 3:5-6) He will heal and restore you.
I am reminded of the old hymn ‘Precious Memories’. I now understand why they’re called ‘precious memories’ when you lose someone you love; those memories become precious. Precious memories, how they linger, how they ever flood my soul. In the stillness of midnight, precious sacred scenes unfold. Precious father, loving Mother, flying across the lonely years, and old home scenes of my childhood, in fond memory, appear. I remember the nights I traveled from Dallas and spent the night with Dad and Mom. About midnight, I would hear my Mother praying, calling out every one of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren by name, and I couldn’t stay in bed; I would quietly in the dark join my Mother in prayer from the side of her recliner. A precious memory!
