It was Tom’s first day in full time school. At lunchtime, he began to pack his small rucksack and head home, His teacher stopped him and said, “It’s time for lunch, Tom, why aren’t you with the other children?”
Tom said to the teacher, “I always go home at lunchtime, but I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Realizing what was happening, the teacher said, “Last year Tom you were in in a playgroup but this year you are full time, your only half way through your school day.”
Tom stared in disbelief and in frustration said, “Who signed me up for that?”
The above is a great analogy of those who have been bereaved and have entered the,” second half” of their lives this time without precious loved ones. I don’t believe any of us wanted to, “sign up” for that!.
But all is not lost as we navigate through a place we have never been before and it reminds me of The LORD’s words to Joshua after the death of Moses;
“After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land, I swore to their ancestors to give them.” Joshua 1 1-6
To develop this theme a bit more I was reminded of an excellent book I read by Gracia Burnham called, “To Fly Again”.
Gracia was widowed when after a long spell of abduction by Islamic terrorists, her husband was mistakenly shot dead by those attempting to liberate them. The account of coming to terms with bereavement and bringing up young children is an inspiring read.
She speaks of a basketball coach at a missionary children’s academy and how he was incredible at motivating his teams.
His inspirational point was at half time, “You’ve got to stay in the game!”
His analogy to life was, “Wherever you are in the world, and whatever you’re doing, the game is not over yet, there’s another half to go. My challenge to you today is this: stay in the game! keep pressing on, as Paul says in Philippians 3:14, ‘to reach the end….and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven”
I think after reading this most of us can identify with this analogy.
Gracia went onto say about her own life experience;
“The first half was long. It went well for the most part. But the last two minutes was very hard. I lost my all-star teammate. I had to fight like everything to stay in the game. Now-I’ve had my rest break. I’ve heard the halftime pep talk, I’ve gotten a cold drink, and the second half of my life is ready to begin”
Are you ready?
Some useful links;
Bereavement Journey Course Click Here
To Fly Again by Gracia Burnham, Click Here
Jude Gray 