grief can cause trouble in our relationships...

grief can cause trouble in our relationships. so we need to give up our grief.

sorrow is a normal part of life. everybody eventually experiences loss. many of you have had losses in the last year. and it hurts. and grieving is a natural part of life. there's nothing wrong with mourning.

matthew 5.4 (niv) says, blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. i like how the message puts it, you're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. only then can you be embraced by the ONE most dear to you.

the bible says it's ok to weep and grieve; it's a part of life.

but there's a big difference between mourning and moaning. moaning is self pity -- "poor me!" when you moan you resign from life. "i quit! i'll never be happy again! i've lost it all!"

you haven't lost it all. you're still here. a lot of people build a wall around themselves and they impose themselves in isolation and say, "i'm never again going to allow anybody to get close to me because i might get hurt again. they get close to me and i loose them. so i'll build a wall and wall out the world. and i'll wall myself in." self inflicted isolation.

listen, pain is a part of life. everybody hurts. everybody reading this has hurts and heartaches. we've all experienced them in life. do not allow your pain to make you a prisoner of that pain. you've got to learn to let go of your grief so you can have good relationships today.

just a thought from the front porch...