Friends in Christ Weekly Message
August 24, 2001

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4 (NRSV*)

Today would be the 56th birthday of my twin sisters. But both have died within the last two years. I have no one to whom to wish happy birthday today, for the first time on an August 24 in my life.

So I mourn today, feeling deeply the losses of these precious sisters of mine. Coming to the Lord this morning in prayer out of this feeling, this is the verse that was given to me to ponder.

In the Greek, this verse carries a sense of mourning summoning the aid of God because it is akin to His nature. God is not comforting us abstractly. God is actually mourning with us. This is part of His nature. When Jesus was told of the death of a friend, "Jesus wept." (John 11:35) [See also message of June 15, 2001]

In my sorrow, the God of the universe unites with me. In the midst of feeling loss, I also feel blessed. I can thank God not only for mourning with me, but for His many blessings. I am grateful for the blessing of decades of sharing love with my sisters.

When you mourn, remember that God mourns with you. Turn to Him, and let Him comfort you. Thank God for His presence in your life.

Bill Samuel

* New Revised Standard Version ©1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches in the United States of America.

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