Difficult days

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. – Psalm 23:6

We buried my wife’s father 2 days before Thanksgiving, and every year the holiday is tinged with the sorrow of losing him. No doubt your calendar contains some of these difficult days that roll around once a year, bringing fresh reminders of losses that still hurt the people you still miss. A Wall Street Journal article calls these dates "emotional land mines" and says they may be even more difficult to face when they coincide with national holidays or anniversaries of significant events.

Grief counselors point out that taking a positive step can help us deal with grief. One year we planted a tree to mark the anniversary of a parent’s death and the birth of a grandson on the same day. A scholarship fund or a memorial gift can benefit others while honoring the memory of a loved one. But a deep healing of spirit is a gift from God.

You may know Psalm 23 by heart, but try reading it with new eyes today. This familiar passages of comfort proclaims: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" (v. 6). Not just some of the days – all the days.

When we traverse the emotional minefield of painful memories, the Good Shepherd is with us on every difficult day. – David McCasland

Savior, please stay close beside,

Be my comfort, Lord, and guide,

When I’m troubled, tempted, tried,

May Your love and grace abide. – Brandt

READ: Psalm 23:1-6

The sweetest experience of God's love can be found in times of sorrow.

The Bible in one year:

• Ezekiel 18-19

• James 4