Okay, so…being a new widow, I have been receiving a lot of booklets, books and cards in the mail.  Most all of them come from people and/or organizations that are part of my Christian heritage.  Well, today I received one that really captured my attention and really caused me to think most of the day.

This booklet came from one of the life insurance policies that Keith had.  This was from a well known company and they have processed the claim very quickly.  And they sent me a booklet.  Please know that I am not in any way being critical of this company for trying to provide a resource for families.  However, as I thumbed through the booklet, I realized the emptiness of the people that they used as case studies.  The overwhelming grief from these people was staggering, and yet the quotes in the book that were there to provide comfort came from authors such as Kahlil Gibran, Abraham Lincoln, Longfellow, and Max Ehrmann.

Because my life is so saturated with Christian influence, and my walk with Christ is so real to me, this was my first experience with what I would call “secular” writings on dealing with death and grief.  I have to tell you, I closed the book with overwhelming sadness for people who have only writings such as this as their hope.

In the chapter entitled, “Caring for Yourself,” the author discusses ways to identify what you are feeling, and then offers suggestions for developing a caring plan for yourself.  There is a list of nine things that she offers as helpful activities that you can do in your caring plan.  The number nine thing that she lists, almost as an afterthought, is “Revisit the religion of your childhood.”

Of all the things I read in this book, this one seemed the saddest…that at the point of one of the worst moments in their lives, these dear ones are having to be told to go back to something that it is automatically assumed that they left along with dolls and building blocks…the religion of their childhood.

I closed the book, raised my hands toward heaven and thanked God that my relationship with Him is fresh and new daily.  I thanked Him for sustaining me during the past weeks and walking beside me and comforting me through EVERY situation that arose.  Yes, He is the God of my childhood, but praise God that when I needed Him the most the relationship was there, and strong.

The point for today is that if you have left the religion of your childhood, don’t go back looking for it.  Instead, breathe a prayer to the Living God, trust His Son, and know that His strength and comfort will infuse you and empower you no matter what you are facing.

Blessings, my friends!