I lost my brother-in-law this morning, three months after he was diagnosed with cancer.

Again I’m surprised the way that grief catches us in moments of loss. One grieves first for one’s own loss. But, I think for me, it is seeing the grief of my sister, their children and grandchildren that deepens my own grief. I know that one day they will find healing in their grief and loss. Memories will bring fewer tears.  Instead, they will be touched with their dad’s humor and his resilient spirit.

I’m reminded of Ann Weems poem in her book “Psalms of Lament:”

“In the quiet time this image comes to me: Jesus weeping
Jesus wept
And in his weeping
He joined himself forever
To those who mourn
He stands now throughout all time
This Jesus weeping
With arms about the weeping ones
‘Blessed are those who mourn
For they shall be comforted
He stands with the mourners
For his name is God-with-us
Jesus wept,
‘Blessed are those who weep, for they shall be comforted.’
Someday, God will wipe the tears from Rachel’s eyes . . .
there is a deafening alleluia
rising from the souls
of those who weep
and of those who weep with those who weep
If you watch, you will see
the hand of God
putting the stars back in their skies
one by one.”

Ann Weems “Psalms of Lament”