Today's Daily Lesson is from Genesis chapter 50:
"Then Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days."
Awhile back I was talking with a dear friend who lost his wife to cancer sometime ago. He said one of the most difficult things for him to deal with is the ways in which even some of his closest friends seem to so often forget that he is still in grief. He sees them at church and they say, "How are you?" in passing. "How am I?" he said he wondered, "I'm barely here, but I'm not going to tell you that in the church parlor over punch and cookies." Or they'll call and ask him to be on a committee without even mentioning his loss. "It's like the whole world has gone on, but I'm still stuck where I was."
The ancients knew that grief and mourning are hard work. They knew the processes of grief and mourning take time - months and sometimes even years. And they knew that the community's long-term support was an important part of helping the bereaved.
Do you know someone who lost someone dear a year or so ago? Chances are they are still mourning. Pray for them now; and then call them and let them know you're thinking of and praying for them.
I can't tell you how much your call will mean.
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